Behavioral Economics (BE)

Overview

<p>The severe consequences of the Covid19-pandemic, including its economic disruptions, and the recent mass protests to combat systemic racial inequality in policing and other institutions have reaffirmed the importance of social science research examining economic, political, racial, ethnic, generational, and social inequalities relevant to public policy and social change. RSF encourages proposals that analyze any of these issues on topics of interest under our Behavioral Economics program. To view Covid-19 Priorities, visit <a href="https://www.russellsage.org/research/funding/covid-19-pandemic">https:/…; <p>The Russell Sage Foundation's program on Behavioral Economics supports novel research that uses insights and methods from psychology, economics, sociology, political science and other social sciences to examine and improve social and living conditions in the United States. We seek investigator-initiated research proposals that will broaden our understanding of the social, economic and political consequences of actual behaviors and decisions.</p> <p>RSF is especially interested in research at the intersection of behavioral economics and behavioral sciences and its other programs—Future of Work; Race, Ethnicity and Immigration; Social, Political and Economic Inequality. Priority will be given to field experiments, as opposed to lab experiments. Projects that can contribute to a more unified theory of human behavior to eventually eliminate the distinction between behavioral economics and the rest of economics are also of interest.</p> <p>The following examples illustrate, but do not exhaust, the topics and types of research the foundation would be interested in supporting:</p> <ul> <li>Choice Architecture</li> <li>Time Preferences</li> <li>Poverty, Inequality and Mobility</li> <li>Labor Markets</li> <li>Racial and Ethnic Bias</li> <li>Public Finance</li> </ul> <p>___________________________________<br>RSF is especially interested in research on the social, political, economic, and psychological consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic (<a href="https://www.russellsage.org/research/funding/covid-19-pandemic">https:/…;). RSF will also accept LOIs relevant to any of its core programs that address at least one of the following issues:</p> <ol> <li>Research on the Covid-19 pandemic and the resulting recession in the U.S. Specifically, research that assesses the social, political, economic, and psychological causes and consequences of the pandemic, especially its effects on marginalized individuals and groups and on trust in government and other institutions. Our priorities do not include analyses of health outcomes or health behaviors. RSF seldom supports studies focused on outcomes such as educational processes or curricular issues, but does prioritize analyses of inequities in educational attainment or student performance.</li> <li>Research focused on systemic racial inequality and/or the recent mass protests in the U.S. Specifically, research that investigates the prevalence of racial disparities in policing and criminal justice and their social, political, economic, and psychological causes and consequences; the effects of the current social protest movement and mass mobilization against systemic discrimination; the nature of public attitudes and public policies regarding policing, criminal justice, and social welfare; and the effects of those attitudes in the current political environment.</li> </ol> <p>RSF will accept research proposals related to the effects of the pandemic in all programs and special initiatives: Behavioral Economics; Decision Making and Human Behavior in Context; Future of Work; Race, Ethnicity, and Immigration; Social, Political, and Economic Inequality. The following topics include research issues of interest to our core programs but do not comprise an exhaustive list.</p> <ul> <li>Effects on the Economy, Workers and Inequalities</li> <li>Effects on Politics and Political Behavior</li> <li>Effects on Immigrants and Racial and Ethnic Minorities</li> <li>The Social Fabric and Psychological Effects</li> </ul>