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on Neuroeconomics |
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Issue of 2015‒06‒20
three papers chosen by |
| By: | Nina Drange; Tarjei Havnes (Statistics Norway) |
| Abstract: | Young children are thought to be vulnerable to separation from the primary caregiver/s. This raises concern about whether early child care enrollment may harm children's development. We use child care assignment lotteries to estimate the effect of child care starting age on early cognitive achievement in Oslo, Norway. Getting a lottery offer lowers starting age by about four months, from a mean of about 19 months in the control group. Lottery estimates show significant score gains for children at age seven. Survey evidence and an increase in employment of both mothers and fathers following the offer, suggest that parental care is the most relevant alternative mode of care. We document that the assignment lottery generates balance in observable characteristics, supporting our empirical approach. |
| Keywords: | early child care; child development |
| JEL: | J13 J21 |
| Date: | 2015–05 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ssb:dispap:808&r=neu |
| By: | Cezar Giosan (Babes-Bolyai University); Muresan Vlad (Babes-Bolyai University); Oana Cobeanu (Babes-Bolyai University); Aurora Szentagotai (Babes-Bolyai University); Oana David (Babes-Bolyai University) |
| Abstract: | Depression and anxiety problems are widespread, lifetime risks for developing anxiety are between 6.7% and 18.1% according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Depression is often associated with unemployment and poverty, and is the leading cause of disease burden in high-income countries. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is the best researched psychological treatment approach to emotional and behavioral problems. Lately, computerized and online CBT interventions have emerged as a cheaper, anonymous and location independent alternative to classical face-to-face therapy. Online CBT may reduce therapist time, reduce waiting lists, save travel expenses and allow access to people with disabilities, while having similar efficacy to classical therapy formats. The current study investigates the efficacy of a novel web-based therapeutic intervention in reducing depressive and anxiety symptomatology on a sub-clinical sample, as well as measuring the efficacy of a new way of improving the therapeutic relationship via animated avatars. Results show that the new treatment is efficient in reducing depressive symptoms, dysfunctional thoughts and negative emotionality. Additionally, perceived empathy was increased in the avatar-enhanced intervention, while therapeutic alliance was unaffected. Implications are discussed in the context on online CBT vs. classical face-to-face interventions. |
| Keywords: | online CBT, internet, cognitive behavioral therapy, depression, anxiety |
| JEL: | I10 I19 I29 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:sek:iacpro:2504225&r=neu |
| By: | Hielke Buddelmeyer (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, University of Melbourne); Nattavudh Powdthavee (Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research, University of Melbourne) |
| Abstract: | We investigate whether the intensity of emotional pain following a negative shock is different across the distribution of a person’s locus of control – the extent to which individuals believe that their actions can influence future outcomes. Using panel data from Australia, we show that individuals with strong internal locus of control are psychologically insured against becoming a victim of property crime and death of a close friend, but not against the majority of other life events. The buffering effects vary across gender. Our findings thus add to the existing literature on the benefits of internal locus of control. Classification-D03, I19, J64 |
| Keywords: | Locus of control, resilience, well-being, happiness, HILDA |
| Date: | 2015–06 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iae:iaewps:wp2015n12&r=neu |