Behavioral Economics Forum: Lessons to Strengthen Development Programming and Policy
Virtual option available
Join the Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Markets, Risk and Resilience in exploring the role of behavioral economics in development programming.
Please join the UC Davis Markets Risk and Resilience FTF Innovation Lab, the Center for the Resilience, and the USAID Chief Economist at the Behavioral Economics Forum February 27-28. The event will be held at the USAID Annex, 500 D Street, SW, Washington DC, and online with the USAID Zoom link.
About the Event
An oft-asked question in economic development and resilience programming is why doesn’t someone act in a way that would optimize their present and future well-being? When development programming doesn’t generate the desired impacts, it is often because the “human element” has not been adequately accounted for. An established and growing body of research from behavioral economics leverages theoretical advances and randomized field trials to answer just that question – to better understand how small-scale farmers make decisions that affect their productivity and resilience. This evidence spans topics including time horizons, gender considerations, even levels of hope – all factors that influence decision making.
The Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Markets, Risk and Resilience hosts a “Behavioral Economics Forum” to lay out the promise and pitfalls of applying behavioral economics in development programming. The focus of the two days will be how key evidence from advances in behavioral economics can be practically incorporated into interventions and policy for more effective development impacts.
The Forum will be held in person at the USAID Annex in Washington, D.C. with an option to participate online.
Schedule
Overview Panel
February 27 | 8:30-10:00 am
Procrastination & Limited Attention Panel
February 27 | 10:30am-12:00pm
Strategies to address behavioral constraints to saving and investment in agricultural technologies
Decision Making in the Face of Rick and Uncertainty Panel
February 28 | 8:30-10:00am
Overcoming behavior-based factors to the adoption of agricultural insurance and other risk management technologies
Aspirations, Agency, and Mental Health Panel
February 28 | 10:30am-12:00pm
Strategies for addressing psychosocial constraints for poverty reduction