Understanding behavior in the context of development: Risk, nudges, and identity
Guide(s)
Banerjee, Ritwik
Department
Economics
Area
Economics
University
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
Place
Bangalore
Publication Date
3-31-2024
Year Awarded
March 2024
Year Completed
March 2024
Year Registered
June 2017
Abstract
This Thesis explores and synthesizes findings from four distinct research papers, each delving into unique aspects of human behavior and decision-making. It encompasses studies on four key areas: risk attitudes and preferences, the effectiveness of behavioral nudges, demographic and behavioral patterns in online labor markets, and the influence of social identity, notably caste identity, within the context of developing societies. The research involves diverse subject pools, ranging from university students to participants in India's online labor markets, students, teachers, and parents in rural Bihar. The first chapter investigates the predictive power of survey measures for risk-based preferences, highlighting a correlation between risk attitude and risk preference but uncovering inconsistencies in choices. The next chapter addresses the exponential growth bias (EGB) and its impact on compliance with COVID-19 safety norms, revealing the effectiveness of behavioral nudges in reducing EGB and enhancing compliance. The third chapter makes a methodological contribution and scrutinizes the representativeness and generalizability of online labor market data, revealing both disparities and consistencies when compared to nationally representative samples. The final chapter looks at the effects of teacher bias on students' outcomes in the context of Bihar's caste system. It highlights how caste identification of teachers negatively affects backward caste students' mental health and educational aspirations. The insights from the research undertaken in this Thesis challenge conventional wisdom, underscore the importance of behavioral interventions, and emphasize the need for targeted policy measures to address pervasive biases. Overall, this research contributes to a more nuanced understanding of human behavior and decision-making processes.
Pagination
xi, 227p.
Copyright
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
Document Type
Dissertation
DAC Chairperson
Banerjee, Ritwik
DAC Members
Sahoo, soham; Bhalla, Manaswini
Type of Degree
Ph.D.
Recommended Citation
Mitra, Satarupa, "Understanding behavior in the context of development: Risk, nudges, and identity" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations. 16.
https://research.iimb.ac.in/doc_dissertations/16
Relation
DIS-IIMB-FPM-P24-16
