The recent revolts, escapes and killings in Latin American prisons seem all too familiar in a region with an incarceration rate twice that of the European Union and some of the highest homicide rates in the world. But an article in the New York Times describing the wholesale takeover of prison systems by criminal groups has brought broader attention to a regional crisis in … [Read more...] about Wielding Better Information and Policies to Curb the Prison Crisis in Latin America
Improving Road Safety with Behavioral Economics
We speed and drive aggressively out of overconfidence, and we disregard commonsense safety measures from too much optimism. We may even use a mobile phone while driving, preferring the short-term convenience of using the phone over greater long-term rewards like safety. We engage, in other words, in time discounting, the tendency to assign a lower value to future rewards than … [Read more...] about Improving Road Safety with Behavioral Economics
When It Comes to Taxes, Gender Matters
Do women and men behave differently when confronted with taxes? Various studies around the world show that women are more likely than men to pay their taxes, presumably because they are more risk-averse and have greater tax morale, the intrinsic motivation to pay taxes. If that is so, authorities might want to adjust their strategies to take into account gender when trying to … [Read more...] about When It Comes to Taxes, Gender Matters
Good Government and the Fight Against Air Pollution’s Mortal Threat
When we think of our personal health, we tend to focus on things like giving up tobacco and alcohol and ensuring good sanitation and cleanliness. Air pollution is not at the top of the list, but it belongs there. It is the greatest single external risk to health, reducing life expectancy by a global average of 2.3 years, according to the University of Chicago's 2023 Air Quality … [Read more...] about Good Government and the Fight Against Air Pollution’s Mortal Threat
Bringing the Doctor’s Office to Your Living Room: Unlocking the Full Potential of Telemedicine
In a rapidly digitizing world, telemedicine promises to revolutionize healthcare delivery by offering remote medical services. It can lower costs, and it can expand access to underserved populations and geographically far-flung regions, not least in situations of crisis, like the COVID-19 pandemic, a natural disaster, or war. However, despite its clear benefits, … [Read more...] about Bringing the Doctor’s Office to Your Living Room: Unlocking the Full Potential of Telemedicine