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Our Work Politics and Public Policy

Is the world as in(equal) as we believe? 

Is inequality as high/low as you believe it to be? Are your perceptions biased in any way? Do you think your beliefs are based on real data or broad assumptions you formed? Actual levels of inequality and citizens’ (mis)perceptions of those levels often differ significantly. Individuals’ estimates are consistently much lower than the actual level […]

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Politics and Public Policy

Risk perception and risk regulation: the public and the experts 

Governments have always had a critical role in managing the chances of adverse outcomes on behalf of the public, relying on regulation to protect citizens from social, environmental, and economic risks.  Being risk analysis a political as well as a scientific enterprise, the public perception of risk greatly affects risk management and assessment by public […]

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Everyday Life Politics and Public Policy

Misperception of Social Norms given out by the market-based logic

One of the most pivotal changes that unfolded during the past three decades was the reach of markets and market values into spheres of life traditionally held sway over by nonmarket norms. Healthcare, education, public safety, and environmental protection are some examples of the sectors where the use of market logic was for the most […]

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Politics and Public Policy

Biases in news reports and media coverage of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict

Media, all sorts of it, is full of biases. Many, we notice on a daily basis, yet others are rather more subtle. The recent outbreak of events on the Ukranian border, however, has brought a concerning number of those biases to light. It is concerning because of the ramifications on a worldwide scale.   What biases […]

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Environment Politics and Public Policy

Cooling down environmental panic: Are we biased in the way we approach climate change? 

Thousands of years ago, human beings transcended the overwhelming wrath of nature, proceeded to overcome tribal wars amongst each other (kind of), and now live in a state of chaotic harmony across the planet. However, by our own hands, the conflict with nature has once again ensued—this time on a world stage. Climate change is […]

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Politics and Public Policy

Digital nudges and politics: the influence of social media on voting behavior  

The behavioral tool of nudging is becoming extremely popular among policymakers as a new powerful instrument to alter people’s behavior in a predictable way, without however the need to restrain the set of options of actors or significantly changing their economic incentives.   However, with the advent of social media and the huge and unprecedented quantity of data potentially collectible from online platforms, society is now faced with an ethical question on nudging techniques and their possible harmful […]

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Environment Politics and Public Policy

Policy implications in environmental policy design: Miami-Dade County case study

Many problems require more than one solution. The scientific consensus is that climate change is a very real and urgent problem, and its consequences will be dire if nothing is done about it. In this article, I will share an overview of the implications governments have to face regarding environmental policy design, with a specific […]

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Politics and Public Policy

Behavioral politics: Do we shape the polls or do they shape the vote?

On January 3rd, 2008 in Iowa, Obama took a huge step towards being elected as the 44th president of the USA. It was the night of the first Democratic primary and Obama was sitting at the victory throne with 38% of the Democratic vote, leaving John Edwards in the second line with 30%  and Hillary […]

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Everyday Life Politics and Public Policy

Healthcare applications of predictive algorithms: A possible solution to physicians’ biases?  

Artificial Intelligence has long held the promise of improving predictions in healthcare solutions, a promise which is now becoming a reality in many settings, first and foremost the US, where in the past years many commercial algorithms have received FDA regulatory approval for broad clinical use. Indeed, the application of Machine Learning, a type of AI which allows software […]

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Everyday Life Politics and Public Policy

Behavioral Energy Efficiency: nudging toward green behavior 

The growing impact of climate change in today’s society is favoring the spread in awareness on the effects of excessive energy consumption, making energy conservation a pressing topic in the public debate.   Exploiting behavioral science, Behavioral Energy Efficiency programs help consumers make more informed and conscious choices on energy optimization issues, motivating them to generate […]