vlog

Delivery worker wearing a medical mask and carrying packages.
Feature: The Impact of State Paid Sick Leave Laws on Service Workers

Daniel Schneider finds that state paid sick leave laws increased service workers’ access to paid sick leave and reduced the share of service workers who worked while sick.

A family with a father, mother, and two small children walking on a dirt path.
Feature: Connecting Absolute and Relative Intergenerational Mobility

Deirdre Bloome offers two frameworks for understanding the relationship between types of intergenerational mobility, or whether people are socioeconomically better off than their parents.

Two women in rural India dressed colorfully and carrying baskets on their heads.
Feature: Studying a Government Program to Support Women’s Self-Help Groups

Michael Walton explores the interactions between state and society in rural India within a major community-based development program, finding two major tensions.

A network of computer motherboards and other parts assembled to look like a miniature city.
Feature: The Data-Informed City

Jorrit de Jong presents a comprehensive framework for how cities can use data to address problems more effectively, efficiently, equitably, and with better accountability.

Harvard Kennedy School faculty disseminate their research in working publications and papers that contribute to public knowledge and fuel policy innovation. This list features recent faculty publications, including journal articles, books, edited volumes, research papers, and public testimony.

Faculty Publications

Private Roles for Public Goals in China’s Social Services

Donahue, John D., Karen Eggleston, Yijia Jing, and Richard J. Zeckhauser. "Private Roles for Public Goals in China’s Social Services." Healthy Aging in Asia. Ed. Karen Eggleston. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, 2020, 199-215.

Improving the Accuracy of Geopolitical Risk Assessments

Mellers, Barbara, Philip E. Tetlock, Joshua Baker, Jeffrey Friedman, and Richard Zeckhauser. "Improving the Accuracy of Geopolitical Risk Assessments." The Future of Risk Management. Ed. Howard Kunreuther, Robert J. Meyer, and Erwann O. Michel-Kerjan. University of Pennsylvania Press, July 2019, 1-28.

Efficient Warnings, Not “Wolf or Puppy” Warnings

Robinson, Lisa A., W. Kip Viscusi, and Richard J. Zeckhauser. "Efficient Warnings, Not “Wolf or Puppy” Warnings." The Future of Risk Management. Ed. Howard Kunreuther, Robert J. Meyer, and Erwann O. Michel-Kerjan. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2019.

Collaborative is Superadditive in Political Economics

Zeckhauser, Richard. "Collaborative is Superadditive in Political Economics." Collaborative Research in Economics: The Wisdom of Working Together. Ed. Szenberg, Michael, and Lall B. Ramrattan. Palgrave Macmillan, 2017, 163-182.

Ignorance: Literary Light on Decision's Dark Corner

Roy, Devjani, and Richard Zeckhauser. "Ignorance: Literary Light on Decision's Dark Corner." Routledge Handbook of Behavioral Economics. Ed. Frantz, Roger, Shu-Heng Chen, Kurt Dopfer, Floris Heukelom, and Shabnam Mousavi. Routledge, 2017, 230-249.

Improving Outcomes in the Trust Game: The Games People Choose in Oman, the United States, and Vietnam

Bohnet, Iris, Benedikt Herrmann, Maliheh Paryavi, Ahn Tran, and Richard Zeckhauser. "Improving Outcomes in the Trust Game: The Games People Choose in Oman, the United States, and Vietnam." Trust in Social Dilemmas. Oxford University Press, 2017.

Forced to Choose, Again: The Effects of Defaults on Individuals in Terminated Health Plans

Sinaiko, Anna D., and Richard Zeckhauser. "Forced to Choose, Again: The Effects of Defaults on Individuals in Terminated Health Plans." Nudging Health: Health Law and Behavioral Economics. Ed. Cohen, I. Glenn, Holly Fernandez Lynch, and Christopher T. Robertson. Johns Hopkins University Press, 2016, 326-338.

The Returns to Education in China: Evidence from the 1986 Compulsory Education Law

Fang, Hai, Karen N. Eggleston, John A. Rizzo, Scott Rozelle, and Richard Zeckhauser. "The Returns to Education in China: Evidence from the 1986 Compulsory Education Law." Policy Challenges from Demographic Change in China and India. Ed. Karen Eggleston. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center, 2016.

The Anatomy of Ignorance: Diagnoses from Literature

Devjani, Roy, and Richard Zeckhauser. "The Anatomy of Ignorance: Diagnoses from Literature." Routledge International Handbook of Ignorance Studies. Ed. Matthias Gross and Linsey McGoey. Routledge, 2015, 61-73.

New Frontiers Beyond Risk and Uncertainty: Ignorance, Group Decision, and Unanticipated Themes, Preface 2

Zeckhauser, Richard. "New Frontiers Beyond Risk and Uncertainty: Ignorance, Group Decision, and Unanticipated Themes, Preface 2." Handbook of the Economics of Risk and Uncertainty. Ed. W. Kip Viscusi and Mark Machina. Elsevier, 2013, xvii-xxix.

Addressing Catastrophic Risks: Disparate Anatomies Require Tailored Therapies

Viscusi, W. Kip, and Richard Zeckhauser,. "Addressing Catastrophic Risks: Disparate Anatomies Require Tailored Therapies." Regulatory Breakdown: The Crisis of Confidence in U.S. Regulation. Ed. Cary Coglianese. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2012, 21-48.

The Tummler’s Task: A Collaborative Conception of Port Protection

Donahue, John D., and Richard Zeckhauser. "The Tummler’s Task: A Collaborative Conception of Port Protection." Ports in a Storm: Public Management in a Turbulent World. Ed. John D. Donahue and Mark H. Moore. Brookings Institution Press, 2012, 116-132.

The Elasticity of Trust: How to Promote Trust in the Arab Middle East and the United States

Bohnet, Iris, Benedikt Herrmann, Mohamad Al-Ississ, Andrea Robbett, Khalid Al-Yahia, and Richard Zeckhauser. "The Elasticity of Trust: How to Promote Trust in the Arab Middle East and the United States." Restoring Trust in Organizations and Leaders: Enduring Challenges and Emerging Answers. Ed. Roderick M. Kramer and Todd L. Pittinsky. Oxford University Press, 2012, 151-169.

Diagnosis: Origins of the Crisis: Comments

Zeckhauser, Richard. "Diagnosis: Origins of the Crisis: Comments." New Directions in Financial Services Regulation. Ed. Porter, Roger, Robert R. Glauber, and Thomas J. Healey. MIT Press, 2011.

The Trouble with Cases

Schauer, Frederick, and Richard Zeckhauser. "The Trouble with Cases." Regulation versus Litigation: Perspectives from Economics and Law. Ed. Daniel P. Kessler. National Bureau of Economic Research, 2011, 45-70.

Virgin Versus Experienced Risks

Kousky, Carolyn, John Pratt, and Richard Zeckhauser. Virgin Versus Experienced Risks. The Irrational Economist: Making Decisions in a Dangerous World. Ed. Erwann Michel-Kerjan and Paul Slovic. Public Affairs, 2010, 99-106.

Dreadful Possibilities, Neglected Probabilities

Sunstein, Cass R., and Richard Zeckhauser. Dreadful Possibilities, Neglected Probabilities. The Irrational Economist: Making Decisions in a Dangerous World. Ed. Erwann Michel-Kerjan and Paul Slovic. Public Affairs, 2010, 116-123.

Denying the Temptation to GRAB

Wernerfelt, Nils, and Richard Zeckhauser. "Denying the Temptation to GRAB." The Natural Resources Trap: Private Investment without Public Commitment. Ed. William Hogan and Federico Sturzenegger. MIT Press, 2010, 197-226.

The Five Neglects: Risks Gone Amiss

Berger, Alan, Case Brown, Carolyn Kousky, and Richard Zeckhauser. "The Five Neglects: Risks Gone Amiss." Learning from Catastrophes: Strategies for Reaction and Response. Ed. Howard Kunreuther and Michael Useem. Wharton School Publishing, 2010, 83-99.

Paltering

Schauer, Frederick, and Richard Zeckhauser. Paltering. Deception: From Ancient Empires to Internet Dating. Ed. Brooke Harrington. Stanford University Press, 2009, 38-54.

Effective Agency, Individual Involvement and Default Choices

Zeckhauser, Richard. Effective Agency, Individual Involvement and Default Choices. The Future of Life-Cycle Saving and Investing: The Retirement Phase. Ed. Zvi Bodie, Laurence B. Siegel, and Rodney N. Sullivan. Research Foundation of CFA Institute, 2009.

Obstacles to Clear Thinking about Natural Disasters: Five Lessons for Policy

Berger, Alan, Carolyn Kousky, and Richard Zeckhauser. Obstacles to Clear Thinking about Natural Disasters: Five Lessons for Policy. Risking House and Home: Disasters, Cities, Public Policy. Ed. John M. Quigley and Larry A. Rosenthal. Berkeley Public Policy Press, 2008, 73-94.

Public-Private Collaboration.

Donahue, John D., and Richard Zeckhauser. "Public-Private Collaboration." Oxford Handbook of Public Policy. Ed. Michael Moran, Martin Rein, and Robert E. Goodin. Oxford University Press, 2006.

JARring Actions That Fuel the Floods.

Kousky, Carolyn, and Richard Zeckhauser. "JARring Actions That Fuel the Floods." On Risk and Disaster: Lessons from Hurricane Katrina. Ed. Ronald J. Daniels, Donald F. Kettl, and Howard Kunreuther. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2006, 59-73.

Sharing the Watch: Public-Private Collaboration for Infrastructure Security.

Donahue, John D., and Richard Zeckhauser. "Sharing the Watch: Public-Private Collaboration for Infrastructure Security." Seeds of Disaster, Roots of Response: How Private Action Can Reduce Public Vulnerability. Ed. Philip E. Auerswald, Lewis M. Branscomb, Todd M. La Porte, and Erwann O. Michel-Kerjan. Cambridge University Press, 2006, 429-456.

Thomas Schelling: Richochet Thinker.

Zeckhauser, Richard. "Thomas Schelling: Richochet Thinker." The Strategist: The Life and Times of Thomas Schelling. Ed. Robert Dodge. Hollis Publishing, 2006, vii-xii.

Extending the Theory to Meet the Practice of Insurance.

Cutler, David M., and Richard Zeckhauser. "Extending the Theory to Meet the Practice of Insurance." Brookings-Wharton Papers on Financial Services. Ed. Robert E. Litan and Richard Herring. Brookings Institution, 2004, 1-53.

Collective Silence and Individual Voice: The Logic of Information Games.

Parson, Edward, Richard Zeckhauser, and Cary Coglianese. "Collective Silence and Individual Voice: The Logic of Information Games." Collective Choice: Essays in Honor of Mancur Olson. Ed. Jac Heckelman and Dennis Coates. Springer-Verlag, 2003.

Information and Communication Technologies, Markets, and Economic Development.

Jensen, Robert T., Karen Eggleston, and Richard Zeckhauser. "Information and Communication Technologies, Markets, and Economic Development." The Global Information Technology Report 2001-2002 Readiness for the Networked World. Ed. Geoffrey Kirkman, Peter K. Cornelius, Jeffrey D. Sachs, and Klaus Schwab. Oxford University Press, 2002, 62-74.

Behavioral Perceptions and Policies Toward the Environment.

Zeckhauser, Richard, and Anthony Patt. "Behavioral Perceptions and Policies Toward the Environment." Judgments, Decisions, and Public Policy. Ed. Rajeev Gowda and Jeffrey C. Fox. Cambridge University Press, 2002, 265-302.

Government Contracting for Health Care.

Eggleston, Karen, and Richard Zeckhauser. "Government Contracting for Health Care." Market-Based Governance: Supply Side, Demand Side, Upside and Downside. Ed. John D. Donahue and Joseph S. Nye, Jr. Brookings Institution, 2002, 29-65.

Trust Among Strangers in Internet Transactions: Empirical Analysis of eBay's Reputation System.

Zeckhauser, Richard, and Paul Resnick. "Trust Among Strangers in Internet Transactions: Empirical Analysis of eBay's Reputation System." The Economics of the Internet and E-Commerce. Ed. M. R. Baye. Elsevier Science, 2002, 127-157.

Government's Role When Markets Rule.

Donahue, John D., and Richard Zeckhauser. "Government's Role When Markets Rule." Governance amid Bigger, Better Markets. Ed. John D. Donahue and Joseph S. Nye, Jr. Brookings Institution, 2001.

Can Market and Voting Institutions Generate Optimal Intergenerational Risk Sharing?

Zeckhauser, Richard, and Antonio Rangel. "Can Market and Voting Institutions Generate Optimal Intergenerational Risk Sharing?" Risk Aspects of Investment-Based Social Security Reform. Ed. John Y. Campbell and Martin Feldstein. University of Chicago Press, 2001, 113-141.

The Economics of Clean-Up, and Implications for Legal Design.

Zeckhauser, Richard, and Carl V. Phillips. "The Economics of Clean-Up, and Implications for Legal Design." The Law and Economics of the Environment. Ed. Anthony Heyes. Elgar, 2001, 116-135.

The Rising Sun and the Stumbling Bear.

Zeckhauser, Richard, and Robert T. Jensen. "The Rising Sun and the Stumbling Bear." Economic Theory, Dynamics, and Markets: Essays in Honor of Ryuzo Sato. Ed. Takashi Negishi, Rama V. Ramachandran, and Kazuo Mino. Kluwer, 2001, 483-493.