Alejandro Hortal, Ph. D.
@alexhortal.bsky.social
Philosopher. Epistemology and ethics of behavioral economics and public policy. Rationality and decision theory. Univ. of North Carolina Greensboro. Wake Forest University.
Pinned
Behavioral strategies for reducing corruption: from regulation to choice architecture | Behavioural Public Policy | Cambridge Core
Behavioral strategies for reducing corruption: from regulation to choice architecture
doi.org
My research on explanatory reasons for corruption (based on bounded rationality and social models) and different strategies to reduce it using behavioral insights, in collaboration with my colleague from Ecuador Armenio Pérez, was just published. @bppjournal.bsky.social. doi.org/10.1017/bpp....
Reposted by Alejandro Hortal, Ph. D.
A reply to a reply.
Ralph Hertwig @susanmichie.bsky.social @robertjwest.bsky.social & Stephen Reicher respond to a commentary from Luc Bovens on their BPP paper.
doi.org/10.1017/bpp....
Ralph Hertwig @susanmichie.bsky.social @robertjwest.bsky.social & Stephen Reicher respond to a commentary from Luc Bovens on their BPP paper.
doi.org/10.1017/bpp....
April 23, 2025 at 8:57 AM
A reply to a reply.
Ralph Hertwig @susanmichie.bsky.social @robertjwest.bsky.social & Stephen Reicher respond to a commentary from Luc Bovens on their BPP paper.
doi.org/10.1017/bpp....
Ralph Hertwig @susanmichie.bsky.social @robertjwest.bsky.social & Stephen Reicher respond to a commentary from Luc Bovens on their BPP paper.
doi.org/10.1017/bpp....
The Economist Association of Madrid just published (in Spanish, a much more philosophical language than English, or German 😉) the best introduction to Behavioral Economics. I wrote the chapter on Ethics and Behavioral Public Policy. I was in Madrid with the other authors last Monday to present it.
February 17, 2025 at 5:54 PM
The Economist Association of Madrid just published (in Spanish, a much more philosophical language than English, or German 😉) the best introduction to Behavioral Economics. I wrote the chapter on Ethics and Behavioral Public Policy. I was in Madrid with the other authors last Monday to present it.
15th Braga Meetings (Portugal, June 25-27). Working on Philosophy, technology (AI, algorithms) in behavioral economics applied to public policy? Stefano Calboli (University of Minho) and I are organizing one of the big panels. Send an abstract!!! 15bragameetings.weebly.com/p10---philos...
15bragameetings.weebly.com
January 8, 2025 at 11:18 PM
15th Braga Meetings (Portugal, June 25-27). Working on Philosophy, technology (AI, algorithms) in behavioral economics applied to public policy? Stefano Calboli (University of Minho) and I are organizing one of the big panels. Send an abstract!!! 15bragameetings.weebly.com/p10---philos...
If interested, exciting workshop in Mexico City on Behavioral Public Policy, Behavioral Economics. @bppjournal.bsky.social
If interested, Intl. Behavioral Public Policy Assoc. is organizing a small workshop in Mexico City (CIDE campus), March 13-14 (no fees). If interested, please email abstract before Jan. 15th, to a_hortal@uncg.edu. Prof. Adam Oliver (LSE) will deliver keynote lecture. www.ibppa.org/event-detail...
CIDE International Behavioural Public Policy Workshop (IBPPW) | IBPPA
13 Mar 2025, 08:00 – 14 Mar 2025, 20:00
www.ibppa.org
December 27, 2024 at 7:31 PM
If interested, exciting workshop in Mexico City on Behavioral Public Policy, Behavioral Economics. @bppjournal.bsky.social
If interested, Intl. Behavioral Public Policy Assoc. is organizing a small workshop in Mexico City (CIDE campus), March 13-14 (no fees). If interested, please email abstract before Jan. 15th, to a_hortal@uncg.edu. Prof. Adam Oliver (LSE) will deliver keynote lecture. www.ibppa.org/event-detail...
CIDE International Behavioural Public Policy Workshop (IBPPW) | IBPPA
13 Mar 2025, 08:00 – 14 Mar 2025, 20:00
www.ibppa.org
December 20, 2024 at 1:10 AM
If interested, Intl. Behavioral Public Policy Assoc. is organizing a small workshop in Mexico City (CIDE campus), March 13-14 (no fees). If interested, please email abstract before Jan. 15th, to a_hortal@uncg.edu. Prof. Adam Oliver (LSE) will deliver keynote lecture. www.ibppa.org/event-detail...
Making an option salient (a nudge) can improve patience in people (a virtue). Could this be a virtue-nudge? Through repetition, can they affect character (intention and deliberation) so people become more virtuous? I think so, as I argued here... behanomics.com/bej/article/...
December 7, 2024 at 12:32 PM
Making an option salient (a nudge) can improve patience in people (a virtue). Could this be a virtue-nudge? Through repetition, can they affect character (intention and deliberation) so people become more virtuous? I think so, as I argued here... behanomics.com/bej/article/...
Sunstein: "Knightian uncertainty is real, and it poses challenging and unresolved issues for decision theory and regulatory practice." @bppjournal.bsky.social www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Knightian uncertainty in the regulatory context | Behavioural Public Policy | Cambridge Core
Knightian uncertainty in the regulatory context
www.cambridge.org
December 5, 2024 at 2:25 PM
Sunstein: "Knightian uncertainty is real, and it poses challenging and unresolved issues for decision theory and regulatory practice." @bppjournal.bsky.social www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Alejandro Hortal, Ph. D.
For all the PPE folks out there: We're co-organizing a PPE+L conference in Bangalore, India, Dec 11-14, 2025. CFA deadline: Jan 15, 2025. Please share widely and spread the word! ppel.tenureslack.com/call-for-abs...
December 2, 2024 at 2:59 PM
For all the PPE folks out there: We're co-organizing a PPE+L conference in Bangalore, India, Dec 11-14, 2025. CFA deadline: Jan 15, 2025. Please share widely and spread the word! ppel.tenureslack.com/call-for-abs...
Reposted by Alejandro Hortal, Ph. D.
ICYMI - A link to the Ryan Oprea paper challenging Prospect Theory’s heuristics & biases
www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...
www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...
Decisions under Risk Are Decisions under Complexity
(December 2024) - We provide evidence that classic lottery anomalies like probability weighting and loss aversion are not special phenomena of risk. They also arise (and often with equal strength) whe...
www.aeaweb.org
November 30, 2024 at 8:48 AM
ICYMI - A link to the Ryan Oprea paper challenging Prospect Theory’s heuristics & biases
www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...
www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...
Adam Oliver's article @bppjournal.bsky.social supports a policymaker's role in enhancing agency by investing in human capital. It also legitimizes government regulations to protect individuals from manipulative practices that exploit behavioral inconsistencies. www.cambridge.org/core/product...
On choice inconsistency: the ‘error’ error in behavioural paternalism | Behavioural Public Policy | Cambridge Core
On choice inconsistency: the ‘error’ error in behavioural paternalism
www.cambridge.org
November 27, 2024 at 4:57 AM
Adam Oliver's article @bppjournal.bsky.social supports a policymaker's role in enhancing agency by investing in human capital. It also legitimizes government regulations to protect individuals from manipulative practices that exploit behavioral inconsistencies. www.cambridge.org/core/product...
Reposted by Alejandro Hortal, Ph. D.
Stunning numbers that I hadn't fully appreciated before reading this piece:
"Globally an estimated 154 million lives have been saved by vaccines... this translates to 6 lives saved every minute of every year for the past 50 years."
www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/f...
"Globally an estimated 154 million lives have been saved by vaccines... this translates to 6 lives saved every minute of every year for the past 50 years."
www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/f...
The Perfect Storm: Mitigating A Convergence Of Forces To Optimize Vaccination | Health Affairs Forefront
The convergence of uninsured adults without access to vaccination services, mis/disinformation, and partisan politics translates to tangible outcomes including a dip in kindergarten vaccination rates; persistently low adult vaccination rates; and an erosion of trust in government, public health, and the system responsible for the development, licensure, and administration of vaccines.
www.healthaffairs.org
November 26, 2024 at 1:40 AM
Stunning numbers that I hadn't fully appreciated before reading this piece:
"Globally an estimated 154 million lives have been saved by vaccines... this translates to 6 lives saved every minute of every year for the past 50 years."
www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/f...
"Globally an estimated 154 million lives have been saved by vaccines... this translates to 6 lives saved every minute of every year for the past 50 years."
www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/f...
Reposted by Alejandro Hortal, Ph. D.
The North Carolina Philosophical Society meeting this spring will be held here at Wake Forest University, with Zena Hitz as the keynote. Check out the call for papers!
northcarolinaphilosophicalsociety.org
northcarolinaphilosophicalsociety.org
North Carolina Philosophical Society
northcarolinaphilosophicalsociety.org
November 26, 2024 at 2:32 AM
The North Carolina Philosophical Society meeting this spring will be held here at Wake Forest University, with Zena Hitz as the keynote. Check out the call for papers!
northcarolinaphilosophicalsociety.org
northcarolinaphilosophicalsociety.org
Gigerenzer reflecting on Rationality Wars... article just published @bppjournal.bsky.social Logical rationality Vs Heuristics-and-Biases Vs Ecological Rationality approach. Basically, my whole PhD thesis (an epistemological history from H. Simon to Nudges) is here. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
The rationality wars: a personal reflection | Behavioural Public Policy | Cambridge Core
The rationality wars: a personal reflection
www.cambridge.org
November 25, 2024 at 10:41 PM
Gigerenzer reflecting on Rationality Wars... article just published @bppjournal.bsky.social Logical rationality Vs Heuristics-and-Biases Vs Ecological Rationality approach. Basically, my whole PhD thesis (an epistemological history from H. Simon to Nudges) is here. www.cambridge.org/core/journal...
Reposted by Alejandro Hortal, Ph. D.
How small changes can have big effects: Cass Sunstein & Lucia Reisch writing for our blog a few years ago
#BehSci #BehaviouralScience #Nudge
bppblog.com/2018/01/25/r...
#BehSci #BehaviouralScience #Nudge
bppblog.com/2018/01/25/r...
Reducing Sludge at Six
Cass Sunstein and Lucia Reisch argue that the design of everyday things can be taken as a guidebook for policymakers; simplicity and intuitiveness of design lead to “sludge reduction”
bppblog.com
November 24, 2024 at 7:33 AM
How small changes can have big effects: Cass Sunstein & Lucia Reisch writing for our blog a few years ago
#BehSci #BehaviouralScience #Nudge
bppblog.com/2018/01/25/r...
#BehSci #BehaviouralScience #Nudge
bppblog.com/2018/01/25/r...
Reposted by Alejandro Hortal, Ph. D.
Rationality entails more than cold-blooded logic—it is ecological, requires judgment and experience and is dependent on the particular problem and context we face in our world of uncertainty and intractability, argues Gerd Gigerenzer:
https://buff.ly/497guyk
HT @lionelpage@bsky.social
https://buff.ly/497guyk
HT @lionelpage@bsky.social
November 24, 2024 at 4:09 PM
Rationality entails more than cold-blooded logic—it is ecological, requires judgment and experience and is dependent on the particular problem and context we face in our world of uncertainty and intractability, argues Gerd Gigerenzer:
https://buff.ly/497guyk
HT @lionelpage@bsky.social
https://buff.ly/497guyk
HT @lionelpage@bsky.social
Reposted by Alejandro Hortal, Ph. D.
A few years ago, we ran a study of temporal discounting in 61 countries. Findings unmistakably indicated that temporal choice anomalies were a global concept, where environment - more so than culture - had significant impacts on country differences. A recent study has extended our work.
The globalizability of temporal discounting - Nature Human Behaviour
Ruggeri et al. find in a study of 61 countries that temporal discounting patterns are globally generalizable. Worse financial environments, greater inequality and high inflation are associated with ex...
www.nature.com
November 24, 2024 at 4:26 PM
A few years ago, we ran a study of temporal discounting in 61 countries. Findings unmistakably indicated that temporal choice anomalies were a global concept, where environment - more so than culture - had significant impacts on country differences. A recent study has extended our work.
I just got my flu vaccine this week. Here is an article I published in 2022 in the Brazilian Journal of Public Policy about vaccine hesitancy: behavioral factors and solutions based on behavioral public policy (nudges, etc.). #vaccineswork
heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein...
heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein...
November 22, 2024 at 4:47 PM
I just got my flu vaccine this week. Here is an article I published in 2022 in the Brazilian Journal of Public Policy about vaccine hesitancy: behavioral factors and solutions based on behavioral public policy (nudges, etc.). #vaccineswork
heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein...
heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein...
Reposted by Alejandro Hortal, Ph. D.
Our good friend Christina Gravert is on the search for 2 fully-funded PhD scholars to join the team in Copenhagen. Deadline for applications 15th January. Full details 👇
jobportal.ku.dk/phd/?show=16...
jobportal.ku.dk/phd/?show=16...
PhD scholarships as part of the research project, “Behavioral Barriers to the Green Transition", CEBI, University of Copenhagen (UCPH)
jobportal.ku.dk
November 22, 2024 at 9:40 AM
Our good friend Christina Gravert is on the search for 2 fully-funded PhD scholars to join the team in Copenhagen. Deadline for applications 15th January. Full details 👇
jobportal.ku.dk/phd/?show=16...
jobportal.ku.dk/phd/?show=16...
Corruption deepens poverty & environmental degradation: diverting resources, undermining governance, and perpetuating inequality. In my latest article, I examine how Behavioral Public Policy helps us understand corruption, offering paths to reduce it. @bppjournal.bsky.social doi.org/10.1017/bpp....
Behavioral strategies for reducing corruption: from regulation to choice architecture | Behavioural Public Policy | Cambridge Core
Behavioral strategies for reducing corruption: from regulation to choice architecture
doi.org
November 21, 2024 at 1:39 PM
Corruption deepens poverty & environmental degradation: diverting resources, undermining governance, and perpetuating inequality. In my latest article, I examine how Behavioral Public Policy helps us understand corruption, offering paths to reduce it. @bppjournal.bsky.social doi.org/10.1017/bpp....
Reposted by Alejandro Hortal, Ph. D.
An updated take on the S-frame. ""An s-frame agenda for behavioral public policy research" | Behavioural Public Policy | Cambridge Core -
t.co/WChGxUUlt0
t.co/WChGxUUlt0
https://bit.ly/3CMRjoH
t.co
November 20, 2024 at 2:04 PM
An updated take on the S-frame. ""An s-frame agenda for behavioral public policy research" | Behavioural Public Policy | Cambridge Core -
t.co/WChGxUUlt0
t.co/WChGxUUlt0
Reposted by Alejandro Hortal, Ph. D.
Trump argues mass deportation will reduce housing costs. In contrast, study finds increased immigration enforcement causes shortages of construction labor and “large reductions in residential construction… [which] is associated with increases in home prices.” www.haas.berkeley.edu/wp-content/u...
November 19, 2024 at 3:05 PM
Trump argues mass deportation will reduce housing costs. In contrast, study finds increased immigration enforcement causes shortages of construction labor and “large reductions in residential construction… [which] is associated with increases in home prices.” www.haas.berkeley.edu/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Alejandro Hortal, Ph. D.
Abstracts deadline for the 4th annual International Behavioural Public Policy Conference is January 31st, 2025. Next year's conference will be in the UK, 10-12 September
Full details on abstract submission: www.ibppa.org/conference-s...
Full details on abstract submission: www.ibppa.org/conference-s...
IBPPC 2025 - Submissions | IBPPA
www.ibppa.org
November 15, 2024 at 2:32 PM
Abstracts deadline for the 4th annual International Behavioural Public Policy Conference is January 31st, 2025. Next year's conference will be in the UK, 10-12 September
Full details on abstract submission: www.ibppa.org/conference-s...
Full details on abstract submission: www.ibppa.org/conference-s...
My research on explanatory reasons for corruption (based on bounded rationality and social models) and different strategies to reduce it using behavioral insights, in collaboration with my colleague from Ecuador Armenio Pérez, was just published. @bppjournal.bsky.social. doi.org/10.1017/bpp....
Behavioral strategies for reducing corruption: from regulation to choice architecture | Behavioural Public Policy | Cambridge Core
Behavioral strategies for reducing corruption: from regulation to choice architecture
doi.org
November 17, 2024 at 10:10 PM
My research on explanatory reasons for corruption (based on bounded rationality and social models) and different strategies to reduce it using behavioral insights, in collaboration with my colleague from Ecuador Armenio Pérez, was just published. @bppjournal.bsky.social. doi.org/10.1017/bpp....