Behavioral
Do Nudges Help Americans Save for Retirement? Not as Much as We Thought.
Two decades ago, Prof. James Choi’s research suggested that automatic enrollment and escalation and could have a sizeable impact on savings. Now he and his co-authors have looked at these programs again and found that under real-world conditions, the effect on savings is much smaller than expected.
To Shift Opinions in Online Conversations, Start by Building Trust
New research from Yale SOM’s Tauhid Zaman suggests that starting by establishing common ground makes it possible to make connections and even change some minds.
The Digital Tool That Helps Robert Shiller Understand the Past
We asked the Nobel Prize-winning Yale economist to reflect on an unexpected source of research information and inspiration. He writes that Google Ngram Viewer can provide important insights about how people saw economic events as they unfolded.
To Be More Charismatic, Take the Focus off Yourself
In an excerpt from her book Influence Is Your Superpower, Yale SOM's Zoe Chance explains how to avoid “anti-charismatic” behaviors that we fall back on when we’re feeling powerless, including overusing personal pronouns and adding unnecessary apologies and caveats.
Beyond Resolutions: Research-Based Suggestions for 2022
We asked faculty from the Yale School of Management for their advice—philosophical, professional, and personal—for our readers for the coming year.
Are Leaders Rewarded for Taking Risks?
In a new study, Yale SOM’s Oriane Georgeac, Gerben van Kleef of the University of Amsterdam, and their co-authors find that in certain situations, risk-taking can strengthen a leader—but it can also backfire.
How Awards for Evaluators Can Reduce Gender Bias
Tristan Botelho and his co-author found that once recognized with Yelp’s Elite label, reviewers demonstrate less gender bias in their reviews. Workplaces could achieve a similar effect by subjecting managers’ hiring and promotion decisions to stronger scrutiny.
Numbers, Not Narratives, Remedy Misperceptions of the Racial Wealth Gap
A series of studies co-authored by Yale SOM’s Michael Kraus have shown that Americans vastly underestimate the wealth gap facing Black Americans. The latest research shows that detailed data is more effective than personal narratives in improving their understanding.
A Man and a Woman Walk into a Bar: How Gender Changes the Perception of a Bad Joke
Yale SOM’s Taly Reich has found one situation in which women, rather than men, are more likely to get the benefit of the doubt: when they tell jokes that fall flat.
Could Be Worse: When You See Others Losing More, You’re More Likely to Take Risks
What induces people to take greater risks in certain situations—such as sitting at the blackjack table in a glitzy casino? A new study from Yale SOM’s Nathan Novemsky and Guy Voiche reveals that we experience losses as less painful when we see examples of bigger losses.
Now It’s Personal: How Knowing an Ad Is Targeted Changes Its Impact
A consumer’s knowledge that an advertisement has been tailored to their interests changes how they respond, according to a new study co-authored by Yale SOM’s Jiwoong Shin. Firms evaluating marketing strategies should factor consumers’ inferences about targeted ads into their advertising decisions, Shin says.
