National Bureau of Economic Research
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The Complicated Relationship between Public Sector Employment and Governance in Low-Income Countries
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Evidence suggests that public sector workers in low-income countries have a wage premium relative to their private sector counterparts, despite the fact that they have lower quality governance. Improving the design of public sector personnel policies may have an impact on the quality of governance.
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How Nudges Can Help Households Internalize Energy Saving Information
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A new study proposes a model to estimate the welfare impacts of providing energy saving reports for households. The study shows that this type of nudge overestimates the reports’ impact because they do not take into account the overall costs of changing people’s behaviors. However, well-targeted schemes can increase both…
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Climate and Conflict: Why Politicians Should Understand How Climate Change Poses a Threat to Security
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The review of 55 scientific articles shows that deviations from moderate climate and precipitation patterns systematically increase the risk of violence and conflict, both on an interpersonal level (assaults, murder, rape) and an intergroup level (political conflicts).
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Paving the Way towards Healthier Consumption Habits to Tackle Obesity: The Mexican Soda Tax Case
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New evidence on the effects of the Mexican soda tax suggests successful intermediate effects of raising the real prices of sodas and avoiding shifts in consumption towards other caloric beverages.
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Common Cents: The Benefits of Expanding Head Start
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New research indicates that Head Start offers a substantial benefit for students who are least likely to enroll and yields a significant financial gain for the government.
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Feel It in the Air: Pollution and Crime in Chicago
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A recent study provides the first quasi-experimental evidence of a link between air pollution and criminal behavior. Researchers estimate the cost of pollution-induced crime and make a case for environmental sustainability policies that consider the impact of pollution and crime on communities.
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Testing vs. Discretion: How Should Firms Hire Their Employees?
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New research analyzes how hiring decisions made using job assessments versus manager discretion impact employee retention and productivity.
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How Does Consumption Spending Respond to Housing Prices?
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New research explores the complex relationship between housing prices and consumer spending. The magnitude of this relationship can vary considerably over time and across households.
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Using Value-Added Measures to Assess Healthcare
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At the core of healthcare reform is the goal to maximize value for patients at the lowest cost possible. As is shown in this study, value-added measures can give valuable insight into the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare providers.
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Poverty Trap, or Ticket to Economic Growth? Forecasting the Impact of Climate Change on Migration and Global Inequality
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A new study models the long-run effects of global warming on agricultural productivity and its impact on migration flows in low- and middle-income countries.
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Behaviorally Informed Interventions Show Promise in Increasing Parental Engagement
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Despite their best intentions, low-income parents often fall behind on important educational goals, such as reading regularly to their children, because of more immediate concerns. New research from the Behavioral Insights and Parenting Lab at the University of Chicago deploys insights from behavioral science to close the gap between parents’…