Psychology and Economics of Poverty Convening 2022
Photo by Mega Caesaria on Unsplash
New, interdisciplinary research has uncovered how facets of our psychology–including cognition, beliefs, aspirations, and norms–impact decision-making, with downstream consequences for health, economic outcomes, and well-being. This work is especially important in the context of poverty and resource scarcity, where findings can be used to design programs that improve lives.
On April 1st, 2022, CEGA’s fourth annual Psychology and Economics of Poverty (PEP) Convening brought researchers, implementing partners, and policymakers together to share original work in this space.
Agenda
Please find a PDF of the agenda at this link. Speakers denoted by italics and an asterisk.
Welcome and Introduction
A Framework for the Psychology of Poverty: An Overview
Ye Rang Park, UC Berkeley (Developmental Psychology)*
Session 1: Biological Underpinnings
One Size Does Not Fit All: Neural Correlates of High Performance are Different for Children in Poverty
Monica Ellwood-Lowe, UC Berkeley (Psychology)*, Susan Whitfield-Gabrieli, C. N. Irving, Silvia A. Bunge
Paper 1, Paper 2, Slides, Recording
Genetics, Economic Choices, and Socioeconomic Status
Leandro Carvalho, University of Southern California (CESR, Economics)*
Session 2: Mental Health and Well-Being
The Long-Run Effects of Psychotherapy on Depression, Beliefs, and Preferences
Bhargav Bhat, Jonathan de Quidt, Johannes Haushofer, Vikram Patel, Gautam Rao, Harvard (Economics)*, Frank Schilbach, Pierre-Luc Vautrey
Paper Draft, Slides, Recording
Long-Term Effects of Cash Transfer Programmes on Adolescents’ and Young Adults’ Mental Health and Its Social Determinants: A Quasi-Experimental Study of Three Countries
Annie Zimmerman, Crick Lund, Ricardo Araya, Sara Evans-Lacko, London School of Economics and Political Science, (Health Policy, Mental Health)*, Yadira Diaz, Juliana Sanchez Ariza, Philipp Hessel, Emily Garman, Mauricio Avendano
The Economic Impact of Depression Treatment in India
Manuela Angelucci, Daniel Bennett, University of Southern California (Economics)*
A Randomized Controlled Trial Varying Unconditional Cash Transfer Amounts in the United States
Ania Jaroszewicz, Harvard University (Behavioral Economics)*, Jon Jachimowicz, Oliver P. Hauser, Julian Jamison
Extended Abstract, Slides, Recording
Panel Discussion: Mental Health Research – Challenges and Opportunities. Moderator: Gautam Rao, Harvard University (Economics) with Supreet Kaur, UC Berkeley (Economics), Mahesh Srinivasan, UC Berkeley (Psychology)
Session 3: Aspirations, Stigma and Beliefs
Hope and Poverty in Development Economics: Emerging Insights and Frontiers
Travis J. Lybbert, UC Davis (Agricultural and Resource Economics)*, Bruce Wydick
Paper Draft, Slides, Recording
The Future in Mind: Aspirations and Future-Oriented Behaviour in Rural Ethiopia
Tanguy Bernard, Stefan Dercon, Kate Orkin, Giulio Schinaia, University of Oxford (Economics)*, Alemayehu Seyoum Taffesse
An Aspiring Friend Is a Friend Indeed: School Peers and College Aspirations in Brazil
Jessica Gagete-Miranda, University of Milano-Bicocca (Public Policy, Economics)*
Paper Draft, Slides, Recording
It’s Not Your Fault: Reducing Stigma Increases Take-up of Government Programs
Jessica Lasky-Fink, UC Berkeley (Public Policy)*, Elizabeth Linos
Session 3: Aspirations, Stigma and Beliefs – Lightning Talks
Poor Expectations: Experimental Evidence on Teacher’s Stereotypes and Student Assessment
Maria Gabriela Farfan Bertran, Alaka Holla, World Bank (Economics)*, Renos Vakis
Does Relative Deprivation Condition the Effects of Social Protection Programs on Political Support? Experimental Evidence from Pakistan
Katrina Kosec, Cecilia Hyunjung Mo, UC Berkeley (Political Science)*
Paper Draft, Slides, Recording
Poverty, Social Disadvantage, and Parental Beliefs about Academic Performance: Evidence from India
Madeline Duhon, UC Berkeley (Economics)*
Panel Discussion: Aspirations, Stigma and Related Research. Moderators: Hazel Markus, Stanford University (Psychology), Catherine Thomas, Stanford University (Psychology)
Session 4: Scarcity and Cognition
Reconsidering the Scarcity Mindset: Greater Focus and Attentional Neglect?
Fiona tho Pesch, Max Planck Institute (Psychology)*, Antonia Langenhoff, Mahesh Srinivasan
Financial Conditions, Sleeplessness and Cognition
Claire Duquennois, University of Pittsburgh (Economics)*, Maulik Jagnani
