Main

My research in behavioral development economics examines social influences on preferences, perception, and performance. Individuals are not autonomous; they see things through a social lens. In recent research, I’ve studied interventions that change dysfunctional social lenses: I’ve shown that participatory theater in India reduced domestic violence. I’ve shown that law can be used to change prototypes of categorie and thereby reduce bias. I’ve also studied how the culture of honor impedes the ability to coordinate in repeated games: in the culture of honor, an initial failure to coordinate on a desirable outcome is interpreted as an insult, which triggers retaliation, which undermines trust.