The new field of 'behavioral economics' attempts to integrate insights from across the social sciences into standard economic research. The Boston Fed's Research Center for Behavioral Economics and Decisionmaking produces research in this exciting new field, with the hopes of applying its lessons into more effective economic policy. The Center also analyzes and interprets outside research that may bear on the Fed's policy responsibilities.

Latest Research

Social and Private Learning with Endogenous Decision Timing
Working Paper 09-11 by Julian Jamison, David Owens, and Glenn Woroch

Another Hidden Cost of Incentives: The Detrimental Effect on Norm Enforcement
Working Paper 09-2 by Andreas Fuster and Stephan Meier

Blood Donations and Incentives: Evidence from a Field Experiment
Working Paper 08-3 by Lorenz Goette and Alois Stutzer

Why Does Unemployment Hurt the Employed? Evidence from the Life Satisfaction Gap between the Public and Private Sectors
Public Policy Discussion Paper Paper 08-1 by Simon Luechinger, Stephan Meier, and Alois Stutzer

The Effects of Expectations on Perception: Experimental Design Issues and Further Evidence
Working Paper 07-14 by Tyler Williams

Active Decisions and Pro-Social Behavior
Working Paper 07-13 by Alois Stutzer, Lorenz Goette, and Michael Zehnder

Social Networks and Vaccination Decisions
Working Paper 07-12 by Neel Rao, Markus M. Möbius, and Tanya Rosenblat

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