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on Neuroeconomics |
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Issue of 2013‒03‒16
six papers chosen by |
| By: | Borghans, Lex (Department of Economics and Research Centre for Education and the Labour Market, Maastricht University); Meijers, Huub (UNU-MERIT/MGSoG and Department of Economics, Maastricht University); Weel, Bas ter (CPB Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Research and Department of Economics, Maastricht University) |
| Abstract: | This research provides an economic model of the way people behave during an IQ test. We distinguish a technology that describes how time investment improves performance from preferences that determine how much time people invest in each question. We disentangle these two elements empirically using data from a laboratory experiment. The main findings are that both intrinsic (questions that people like to work on) and extrinsic motivation (incentive payments) increase time investments and as a result performance. The presence of incentive payments seems to be more important than the size of the reward. Intrinsic and extrinsic motivations turn out to be complements. |
| Keywords: | incentives, cognitive test scores |
| JEL: | J20 J24 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:dgr:unumer:2013006&r=neu |
| By: | Franz Westermaier; Brant Morefield; Andrea M. Mühlenweg |
| Abstract: | We examine how parental health shocks affect children’s non-cognitive skills. Based on a German mother-and-child data base, we draw on significant changes in self-reported parental health as an exogenous source of health variation to identify effects on outcomes for children at ages of three and six years. At the age of six, we observe that maternal health shocks in the previous three years have significant negative effects on children’s behavioral outcomes. The most serious of these maternal health shocks decrease the observed non-cognitive skills up to half a standard deviation. Paternal health does not robustly affect non-cognitive outcomes. |
| Keywords: | Human capital, health, non-cognitive skills |
| JEL: | I00 J24 I10 |
| Date: | 2013 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:diw:diwsop:diw_sp542&r=neu |
| By: | Chatterjee, Sidharta |
| Abstract: | Traditionally, learning organizations face certain constraints related to both exogenous and endogenous factors. In this paper, I model three well established constraints that employees face while being part of their organizations. These are in the tune of constraints on their natural behavior which is explicit, and two implicit constraints on their endeavor to acquire new knowledge and perform new actions. The implicit constraints which are elaborated, is related to their relative performance in acquiring new knowledge and by their consecutive actions based on the new knowledge gained. This paper, so forth, attempts to underline such limitations which the agents face under organizational culture and suggest possible strategic initiatives that would effectively counteract such binding limitations to stimulate positive performances from their end. |
| Keywords: | Organizational learning, constraints, employee behavior, cognitive load, knowledge, organizational adaptation |
| JEL: | L20 M14 M51 |
| Date: | 2013–01–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:44407&r=neu |
| By: | Maria del Carmen Huerta; Willem Adema; Jennifer Baxter; Wen-Jui Han; Mette Lausten; RaeHyuck Lee; Jane Waldfogel |
| Abstract: | Previous research has shown that fathers taking some time off work around childbirth, especially periods of leave of 2 or more weeks, are more likely to be involved in childcare related activities than fathers who do not do so. Furthermore, evidence suggests that children with fathers who are ‘more involved’ perform better during the early years than their peers with less involved fathers. This paper analyses data of four OECD countries — Australia; Denmark; United Kingdom; United States — to describe how leave policies may influence father’s behaviours when children are young and whether their involvement translates into positive child cognitive and behavioural outcomes. This analysis shows that fathers’ leave, father’s involvement and child development are related. Fathers who take leave, especially those taking two weeks or more, are more likely to carry out childcare related activities when children are young. This study finds some evidence that children with highly involved fathers tend to perform better in terms of cognitive test scores. Evidence on the association between fathers’ involvement and behavioural outcomes was however weak. When data on different types of childcare activities was available, results suggest that the kind of involvement matters. These results suggest that what matters is the quality and not the quantity of father-child interactions. |
| Keywords: | United Kingdom, Australia, United States, Denmark, cognitive development, birth cohort studies, parental leave, paternity leave, fathers’ involvement, behavioural problems |
| JEL: | D10 D60 J13 J16 J22 |
| Date: | 2013–01–14 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:oec:elsaab:140-en&r=neu |
| By: | Isilda Mara (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies); Michael Landesmann (The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies) |
| Abstract: | Mobility in the forms of permanent migration, return or out-migration can provide individuals with gainful employment, better jobs and a higher level of earnings. But as a growing number of studies are suggesting, the gains from migration should not be strictly evaluated from the utilitarian approach but subjective well-being indicators should be taken into consideration. The purpose of this study is to test how life satisfaction during the migration experience determines the preference to stay, return or out-migrate by controlling not only for economic but also for social and subjective well-being determinants. We aim to address this analysis by combining two streams of research: the one on migration and return decisions and the one on life satisfaction and subjective well-being literature so as to broaden the analytical framework to add to economic thinking also some of the main findings from other social sciences. The results of the study confirm that, once in the destination country, migration intentions such as to stay permanently, to move to another country or to return home are strongly linked to the assessment of life satisfaction through diverse social and economic drivers. For women life satisfaction is not only a good predictor of migration preferences but also a mediator, whereas for men this is not confirmed. Determinants that appear to be positively linked with life satisfaction are civic participation and housing which correlate with migrants’ reporting high levels of life satisfaction. |
| Date: | 2013–03 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nor:wpaper:2013008&r=neu |
| By: | David N. Figlio; Jonathan Guryan; Krzysztof Karbownik; Jeffrey Roth |
| Abstract: | We make use of a new data resource, merged birth and school records for all children born in Florida from 1992 to 2002, to study the effects of birth weight on cognitive development from kindergarten through schooling. Using twin fixed effects models, we find that the effects of birth weight on cognitive development are essentially constant through the school career; that these effects are very similar across a wide range of family backgrounds; and that they are invariant to measures of school quality. We conclude that the effects of poor neonatal health on adult outcomes are therefore set very early. |
| JEL: | I14 I20 I24 |
| Date: | 2013–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:18846&r=neu |