Stay Informed!

Behavioral Economics 101: Decision Making In the Context of Poverty

September 23, 2010 11:30 am – 1:00 pm

Room: Maryland C

This session is sponsored by Levi Strauss Foundation

Have you heard the term “behavioral economics” but aren’t sure exactly what it is and how it applies to your work? In this session, University of Washington Professor Crystal Hall will provide a mini-version of a course she teaches on this topic, with a particular focus on economic and financial decision making in the context of poverty. The lecture and discussion will incorporate themes from behavioral economics, along with relevant findings from cognitive and social psychology. This session is appropriate for practitioners, advocates, funders, financial institutions, researchers and anyone else with an interest in learning how to design, test and implement more effective programs to promote financial security for low-income people. Want to learn more about applied, behaviorally informed asset-building experiments? Then join us again after lunch for Behavioral Economics 201: Applying the Research to Asset-Building Initiatives: Lessons From A Year of Experimentation, with CFED Innovator-in-Residence Mindy Hernandez.

Speakers

• Amy Brown, Ford Foundation - Moderator
  Amy Brown is program officer in the Ford Foundation’s financial assets unit. Her grant making supports three key areas related to financial services for low-income households: developing affordable and appropriate financial products and services; building an infrastructure to expand access to financial products and services; and policy advocacy to promote responsible regulation and consumer protection. Before joining the Ford Foundation, Amy was a Senior Consultant to the Aspen Institute’s Economic Opportunities Program, and also held leadership positions at national and community-based research, advocacy and direct service organizations.
• Crystal Hall, University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Affairs
  Crystal Hall has served as an assistant professor of Public Affairs at the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Affairs since the fall of 2008. Her research focus is on decision making in the context of poverty. Specifically, her research explores how simple behavioral interventions can encourage positive financial decision making among lower-income individuals. She has recently begun to explore how interventions can be especially beneficial at tax time. In addition, she has begun a new line of research investigating the notion of poverty as a carrier of culture that influences perceptions and behavior of low versus high income individuals. Broadly speaking, her previous research has explored decision making in policy contexts. She has also provided guidance to community organizations seeking to implement tools from psychology and behavioral economics into the design and delivery of programs and services. She holds a PhD in Psychology from Princeton University and a B.S. in both Decision Science and Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University.
• Genevieve Melford, CFED
  Genevieve Melford is senior program manager for applied research and a member of the Innovations in Manufactured Homes (I'M HOME) team at CFED. Ms. Melford's areas of focus include performance measurement; state and local economic development; asset building and financial security; manufactured housing; development finance; research on the links between small and medium enterprise development and poverty reduction; and the financial needs of low-income people and communities. Prior to joining CFED, Ms. Melford helped develop a performance measurement system for a statewide economic development plan for the Oregon Business Council and conducted field research on opportunities for commercial investment in the Indian microfinance sector. She has also worked as a labor consultant in New York City, performing research and analysis for a range of labor union clients in support of organizing, bargaining and policy campaigns.

Resources

Crystal C. Hall - pdf presentation

Behavioral Economics 101 reference list