Behavioral economics includes several nuanced and overlapping concepts that can make it difficult to determine a practical application. A recent collaboration between several leading economists and market analysts has yielded a comprehensive guide to behavioral economics (BE) that outlines the main theories underpinning BE in an accessible way. It also lists other resources for further reading and … Continue reading
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Correcting Misconceptions: Youth Programs in Action
A call to action by the Philippine Information Agency highlights the ever-growing need for education in the face of reproductive health misconceptions. In a recent presentation, the Assistant Secretary of the National Youth Commission (NYC) of the Philippines addressed his audience with startling statistics from a demographic and health survey. He explained, “fifty percent of the youth … Continue reading
Health Policymakers Meet Behavioral Economics
While behavioral economics has become increasingly popular in academia, its popularity among policymakers is less clearly marked. A recent article in the Oxford Journal identifies trends in opinions towards behavioral economics among health policymakers. Researchers collected survey responses from a total of 520 policymakers working in the low- and middle-income countries that are often targeted by behavioral … Continue reading
Reshaping Views of Reproductive Health through Media Intervention
In an effort to reshape attitudes toward reproductive health, Sierra Leone-based nonprofit Ipas invited a cohort of national journalists to a two-day training on the subject. The training focused on educating participants about the prevalence of unsafe abortions in Sierra Leone, the status of abortion laws in the region and the media’s role in transmitting these messages to the public. By … Continue reading
Appealing to Altruism: Tools to Promote Action
A recent blog post on using behavioral economic principles to nudge people into charitable giving highlights some important tools that are used to increase interest in and donation to an organization’s cause. Harnessing tools including positive framing, identity priming, and social pressure can boost the effectiveness of educational and awareness-raising campaigns as well. Examples of this can … Continue reading
World Cup Condoms: Promoting Safer Sex
DKT International recently introduced a new Caipirinha flavored condom in Brazilian colors to increase the uptake of condoms during the 2014 World Cup. Several other international agencies — including UNAIDS Protect the Goal — have also leveraged the cultural importance of the World Cup globally to promote sexual health. Intensive marketing campaigns such as this … Continue reading
The First 1,000 Days
The first 1,000 days between a woman’s pregnancy and a child’s second birthday offer a critical opportunity to dramatically affect his or her development. Organizations like 1,000 Days advocate for better and more informed nutrition to improve a child’s well-being and possibly break the cycle of poverty. New efforts by the Department of Social Development … Continue reading
Lifting Children out of Poverty: A Twenty Year Study
While we focus on improving child health through improved reproductive health, a recent study is an important reminder that there are several successful strategies to improve children’s lives. BERI executive committee member, Paul Gertler, was recently featured on NPR for his contributions to a twenty year study on improving education and labor market outcomes among … Continue reading
The Benefits of Peer Pressure
We often hear about the negative impacts of peer pressure, but a recent New York Times article highlights its potential benefits. Peer pressure can be harnessed to change social norms and encourage the adoption of beneficial health products and services. Depending on an organization’s capacity and community needs, there are several different ways to use … Continue reading
Technology and Sexual and Reproductive Health Education
A recent Huffington Post article emphasizes the importance of leveraging technology to improve sexual and reproductive health education. New technologies offer a key opportunity to engage adolescents and apply tools from behavioral economics that maximize the benefits of these platforms, particularly among social media. Improved social media campaigns and messages targeted towards youth can harness … Continue reading
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