Behavioral Economics Commons^™

Beginner's Luck: The Impact Of Early Wins On Long-Term Gambling Patterns, Jasmine Tan

CMC Senior Theses

The legalization of online sports gambling has rapidly expanded access to gambling platforms, raising concerns about its potential impacts on gambling behavior and addiction. This study investigates whether early wins in online sports gambling predict sustained gambling engagement. Using longitudinal data from 46,339 subscribers to online gambling site bwin Entertainment, we analyzed the gambling activity of new sports bettors over 18 months. Gamblers were categorized based on early outcomes (losses, break-even, small wins, and big wins), and engagement was measured by total bets placed, total gambling days, total stakes after the first three days, and frequency of play. Interaction terms …

From Pixels To Proposals: Exploring The Effects Of Empathy And Immersion On Economic And Moral Decision - Making In Video Games, Alex Dien

CMC Senior Theses

This study explores the role of immersive environments, specifically video games, in shaping empathy and decision-making during economic exchanges like the Ultimatum Game. Traditional economic models emphasize rationality, but more recent research highlights the influence of emotions and empathy on decision-making. Using a 2x2 between-subjects design, this proposed study will investigate how varying levels of immersion (active gameplay versus passive observation) and fairness of offers (fair versus unfair) affect participants' responses to non-human characters (NPCs). I plan to recruit eighty participants, aged 18-25, to engage with a video game, Red Dead Redemption 2 (Rockstar Games, 2018) either through playing or …

High ‘Steaks’: Does Lone Star Tick-Induced Red Meat Allergy Reduce Cardiovascular Disease-Related Hospitalizations?, Raj Parekh

CMC Senior Theses

In this thesis, I investigate the relationships between Lone Star Tick-induced Alpha-Gal Syndrome (AGS), red meat consumption, and cardiovascular health outcomes within New York State's 62 counties from 2012 to 2021. The analysis examines whether AGS, which forces individuals to reduce red meat consumption, serves as a natural experiment in understanding dietary impacts on cardiovascular disease (CVD). Leveraging panel data, I utilize Fixed Effects (FE) and Two-Stage Least Squares (2SLS) regression frameworks to disentangle the relationships between red meat expenditure, meat prices, Lone Star Tick prevalence, and health outcomes such as CVD, stroke, coronary heart disease, and heart attack hospitalization …

Just As Advertised: The Perception And Effectiveness Of Artificial Intelligence In Digital Advertising, Brandon Isem Cáceres

CMC Senior Theses

What do you think when you hear “AI in advertising”? Does it spark intrigue, or does it feel like just another tech buzzword? In today’s fast-paced digital marketing landscape, connecting with consumers is a high-stakes challenge, and artificial intelligence is at the forefront of innovation. From automating campaigns to creating hyper-targeted content, AI promises efficiency and precision—but how do audiences perceive this shift? By analyzing key performance indicators (KPIs) like impressions, click-through rates, and cost-per-click in an an original A/B test, this thesis evaluates the perception and effectiveness of AI-driven advertising strategies. Combining historical insights, case studies, and an original …

You Lose, You Lag: Evidence From 2020 And 2024 On U.S. Partisan Bias, Presidential Election Defeat, And Perceived Future Real Income, Brandon O. Felix

CMC Senior Theses

Recent presidential elections, in particular the two most recent ones, have revealed striking partisan divides, not only in political attitudes but also in household economic expectations. This study investigates how partisan electoral loss shapes perceived changes in real income across income groups, using data from the University of Michigan Survey of Consumers surrounding the 2020 and 2024 U.S. presidential elections. I employ ordered logistic regression models for the baseline models and generalized ordered logistic regression models for those models with pertinent demographic controls in order to analyze the probability of respondents expecting real income losses, stability, or gains, respectively. Generating …

Clutch Or Comfortable? How Franchise Tags Influence Qb Performance In The Nfl, Justin Edwards

CMC Senior Theses

Abstract

The National Football League (NFL) has a type of contract known as the Franchise Tag. The Franchise Tag is a one-year contractual extension often used when a player and a team cannot come to terms regarding the details of a contract extension. Usually, the player expects to be paid more than the organization can afford that year due to restrictions imposed by the salary cap. Because of this, Franchise-Tagged players tend to have a greater incentive to perform well in hopes of being signed into a long-term contract. My findings show that the incentive of future earnings and job …

Behavioral Finance: The Influence Cognitive Dissonance Has On Investors, Noah A. Adams

A with Honors Projects

The aim of this literature review is to understand the relation between the Cognitive Dissonance Theory and investor decision-making. Under the Investor Rationality Theory, investors are perceived to act in their best interest financially after gathering all available information on their investment. Behavioral Finance on the other hand is the study of psychological biases and emotions and how they influence investors, causing them to act rather irrationally and consequentially creating an irrational market.

Sports Facilities, Trails, And Travel Cost: A Non-Market Valuation Case Study Of Parks In Montana, Clemens Walter Wilson

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

This study applies the travel cost valuation method to urban parks in the State of Montana in an effort to determine whether parks with attributes related to exercise have greater value for recreationalists. By observing real recreation behaviour of urban park visitors through the use of cellphone mobility data, recreational demand for varying parks can be ascertained. To model recreational demand, the random utility model (RUM) and multinomial logit model (MNL) are leveraged to understand choice probabilities of parks, based on the attributes of parks, including sports facilities and trails. This study finds that there are positive and significant relationships …

Is Knowledge Really Power And Ignorance Bliss? A Study Of Financial And Pension Ignorance, Agata Olechnowicz-Szewczyk, Elżbieta Babula

Journal of Banking and Financial Economics

In this study, we examine the impact of financial and pension ignorance (information avoidance) on the decisionmaking process for long-term savings. We define the concept of pension ignorance, as active avoidance of retirement information, failure to make decisions regarding retirement savings, and a lack of strategic retirement planning. To assess financial ignorance, we utilized the scale developed by Barrafrem et al. (2024), while pension ignorance was evaluated using the scale designed by the authors. The study was conducted with a sample of 1,200 Polish residents aged 18 to 65, using the Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) method. The findings reveal that …

Correlate Of Savings Attitude And Generational Poverty As Mediated By Financial Literacy: Evidence From Ghana, Adu Bismark Owusu-Sekyere, Williams Kwasi Peprah [email protected]

Faculty Publications

This study examines the mediating role of financial literacy between savings attitudes and generational poverty in Ghana. Generational poverty is a significant issue in Ghana, with a multidimensional poverty rate of 45.6% and a consumer expenditure poverty rate of 23.4%. The problem persists due to low financial literacy and poor savings attitudes, which hinder economic growth and development. The research employed a quantitative methodology, utilizing a series of regression analyses to test the mediation effects of financial literacy. A correlational design was adopted to assess the relationships between the variables. The study’s population included 400 individuals from the five regions …

Pengaruh Religiusitas Terhadap Intensi Boikot Mahasiswa Ui Untuk Produk Terafiliasi Israel, Muhammad Haiqal Fauzi, Rifkanissa Azzahra, Raditya Akhdan Nirwasita, Muhammad Izzan

Jurnal Manajemen dan Usahawan Indonesia

This study aims to analyze the factors influencing students at Universitas Indonesia (UI) in participating in the boycott movement against products affiliated with Israel. Data were collected through an online survey of 408 UI students from the 2021–2024 cohorts. The sample was selected using the purposive sampling method. Analysis using Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modeling (CB-SEM) demonstrates that anger, empathy, and subjective norms have a positive and significant impact on boycott intentions, while religiosity is not significant. Economic threats are found to increase anger, which in turn drives boycott intentions. These findings emphasize that emotional factors and social pressure play a …

Behavioral Accounting As A Catalyst In The Organizational Transformation Process Toward Sustainability, Ni Wayan Yellow Prinsis Dayani, I Gusti Ayu Nyoman Budiasih

Jurnal Akuntansi dan Keuangan Indonesia

This research investigates the role of behavioral accounting as a catalyst in the organizational transformation process towards sustainability using phenomenological methods. The study aims to explore how behavioral accounting identifies individual behavioral factors, designs efficient sustainability systems, and enhances organizational commitment to sustainable practices. The research employs observation, secondary data analysis, and semi-structured interviews with organizational internal team, analyzed through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Findings indicate that behavioral accounting contributes to organizational sustainability by enhancing transparency in accounting information, thereby minimizing the risk of fund misuse and ensuring efficient resource allocation. This research supports behavioral accounting as pivotal in shaping …

The Mediation Of Financial Behavior To Financial Literacy And Spending Habits Of Gen Z: An Exploratory Factor Analysis, Joel Mark Rodriguez, Del Carmen Labong, Lourdes Palallos

Journal of Global Awareness

The study aims to explain the relationship of financial literacy with spending habits and behavior. Financial behavior is a mediator of Generation Z. Financial literacy is a very important dimension in making financial decisions, and this research highlighted the direct and indirect impacts that financial literacy exerts on spending behavior. Data is collected from 317 respondents using a structured questionnaire measuring financial literacy, financial behavior, and spending behavior. Correlation, regression, mediation analysis, and Structural Equation Modeling have been used in evaluating these relationships. Financial literacy directly reflects a strong relationship with spending behavior, and its coefficient is 1.167. Financial behavior, …

The Ethical Contributions Of Nudges To Healthcare, Ian Doherty

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

“The Ethical Contributions of Nudges to Healthcare” examines the ethical use, implications, and rationale for using nudges in healthcare. The use of nudges in healthcare are being empirically examined. This leaves much to be examined from the ethical perspective. To examine the ethical perspective, the dissertation lays out how nudges interact with and enhance the biomedical principles of autonomy and beneficence. The dissertation then turns to clinical ethics. Nudges, more specifically the framing effect, are paired with trust in the patient-physician relationship to discern how best to aid a patient in his or her medical decision-making. The dissertation then investigates …

Digital Bodyguards: Experimental Evidence On The Role Of Personal Safety On Mobility And Empowerment, Fareena Noor Malhi, Sheheryar Banuri, Zehra Aftab

CBER Conference

This research paper examines the impact of the Women Safety App (WSA) on female mobility in urban Lahore, Pakistan. Through a randomized field experiment targeting lower middle-income households, we evaluate the effectiveness of the WSA in reshaping gender safety perceptions and increasing female presence in public spaces. The intervention includes comprehensive training and awareness sessions, followed by the download and registration of the app on participants' smartphones. Data collected from 319 working-age women reveal significant improvements in mobility patterns and safety perceptions postintervention. Our preliminary findings indicate the intervention significantly impacts extensive margin, increasing the time spent travelling. Further it …

The Impact Of Technological Change On Achieving Sustainable Development: Panel Data Analysis On Emerging Countries (2004-2024), Mayar Walid Al, Ahmed Tarek Ta

Future Journal of Social Science

This study examines the impact of technological change on sustainable development in five emerging economies—Egypt, China, Brazil, India, and Turkey—over the period from 2004 to 2024 (World Bank, 2020; ITU, 2022). It seeks to understand how advancements in information and communication technologies, renewable energy, and manufacturing processes shape economic, social, and environmental sustainability (Geels et al., 2017; UNEP, 2021). Using panel data analysis, the research quantifies the relationship between technological indicators, such as ICT penetration and renewable energy adoption, and sustainable development outcomes, including GDP growth, environmental health, and social inclusion (Sadorsky, 2010; Shahbaz et al., 2016).

The findings reveal …

Stakeholder Fairness And Corporate Social Impact: The Behavioral Economic Structure Of Corporate Law, Eli Bukspan

Michigan Business & Entrepreneurial Law Review

This study aims to bridge the gap between stakeholder capitalism—manifesting today in the evolving corporate social impact paradigm—and the historical shareholder primacy of corporate law. The emerging view of corporate purpose, particularly stakeholder capitalism, is closely related to the notion of fairness. This article demonstrates—by looking mainly at Israeli corporate law—that certain foundational concepts of behavioral economics better describe and justify the recent prominence of stakeholderism and the rejuvenated discourse of corporate social impact and purpose than does neoclassical economic theory. It concludes that the “fairness principle” provides a strong rationale for assimilating stakeholder expectations into the DNA of modern …

Striking A Balance: Market Shock & Responses In Automotive Components Manufacturing, Emma Lane Mcgahey

All Theses

This thesis examines the effects of extreme market shocks on supply chain dynamics within the automotive industry. Through an analysis of demand data from an automotive manufacturer to its component suppliers (January 2018 to May 2024), the study investigates the relationship between market shocks and supply chain responses, providing insights into how auto components inventory management handles downstream responses to market shocks. With supporting public data—from FRED, BLS, and the U.S. Census Bureau resources—we explore two primary relationships: the impact of market shocks on the Average Standard Deviation of Demand (SDO) and the effect of demand variability on expedited pricing …

Is Subjective Well-Being Insured Against Income Shocks? Evidence From 20-Year Panel Data In South Korea, Jiyeon Ahn, Taehyun Ahn, Kim

Research Collection School Of Economics

Using 20 years of nationally representative panel data in South Korea, we estimate how life satisfaction responds to income shocks. We document that unexpected income changes significantly impact an individual's life satisfaction, and the magnitudes depend on the persistence of income shocks. We find that permanent income shocks substantially penetrate life satisfaction, while transitory income shocks have minimal impact. We also find that life satisfaction regarding external factors such as family income and leisure activities is more sensitive to income shocks than life satisfaction related to social relationships. Our findings imply that it is critical for the government to address …

Examining The Effects Of Food Insecurity And Socioeconomic Status On Breastfeeding Duration Among Latina Mothers In Las Vegas, Nika Jenabi

Undergraduate Research Symposium Posters

Background: This study aims to investigate breastfeeding duration among Latina mothers in Clark County. We hypothesize that Latina mothers who experience significant health disparities, including low food security and limited economic resources, are likely to have shorter breastfeeding durations.

Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design. The preliminary sample included 54 mothers who met the following inclusion criteria: aged 18 or older, self-identifying as Latina, having at least one child under 5 years old, and residing within Clark County. The survey included questions related to experiencing food insecurity, socioeconomic factors, and breastfeeding duration. Data analysis was performed using STATA 17 …

Growers’ Perceptions And Strategies To Mitigate Spring Frost Injury In Grapevines, Vinicius Cervilieri, Imed Dami, Guilherme Signorini

Journal of Extension

Uncertain weather patterns raise concerns about frequent spring frosts and injury in grapevines. This article quantifies growers’ perceptions of susceptibility to spring frosts and examines their satisfaction with existing mitigation strategies. Departing from a survey with grape growers, results show that over 80% of sampled growers have experienced damage due to frosts. Over-vine sprinklers, proper site selection, and adoption of late budding cultivars are the practices with the highest satisfaction levels. None of the strategies examined reached the highest satisfaction score. In addition, 61% of respondents showed interest in sprayable products to delay budbreak and circumvent grapevine damage.

The Welfare Effects Of Including Household Preferences In School Assignment Systems: Evidence From Ecuador, Gregory Elacqua, Isabel Jacas, Thomas Krussig, Carolina Méndez, Christopher Neilson

Discussion Papers

We partner with Ecuador’s government to implement a centralized school choice system using a Deferred Acceptance algorithm in Manta. Our study evaluates the welfare impact of transitioning from a distance-based assignment system to one that incorporates families’ preferences. Results show that accounting for preferences yields substantial welfare gains. Counterfactual analyses suggest that alternative mechanisms offer limited improvements compared to the benefits of preference inclusion and coordinated assignments. Household survey data on beliefs and satisfaction support these findings, indicating that centralized school choice systems can deliver significant welfare effects in developing countries.

Refereed Research - Religiosity And Sociality As Sources Of Resilience For Women Subsistence Entrepreneurs During The Pandemic, Rozina Akther

Subsistence Marketplaces

This study examines challenges faced by subsistence women entrepreneurs during COVID-19, the crisis of 2020, and their resilience in addressing the circumstances. The results of qualitative interviews with 13 subsistence marketplace women entrepreneurs in Bangladesh are presented in this article. In the current study, two themes are found to best capture the experiences and resilience of women business owners in the subsistence marketplaces. Furthermore, the study provides important insights from informant interviews, showing how women business owners navigate their operations during a pandemic. It highlights attributes such as relational strength and faith in a higher power that contribute to their …

Federal Election Commission And Indiana Secretary Of State Campaign Finance Information Resoures, Bert Chapman

Libraries Faculty and Staff Presentations

This presentation covers campaign finance information resources produced by the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and Indiana Secretary of State. It describes how these agencies began, details how they oversee and regulate U.S. federal and Indiana state elections, and documents contributions made by individuals, organizations, political parties, and political action committees to individual candidates and organizations. Reporting documentation on these election races is also included.

Evaluation Of Unplanned Reattendances To The Pediatric Emergency Department: A Five-Year Study, Liying Toh, Jin Wee Lee, Siok Hoon Ang, Sashikumar Ganapathy, Janani D/O Nadarajan, Shu-Ling Chong

Research Collection School Of Economics

Background: Unplanned reattendances (UR) are an important quality indicator in the emergency department (ED). Understanding the risk factors associated with UR can aid clinicians in optimizing the allocation of time and resources, as well as targeted counselling for this specific group of patients. In this study, we aimed to compare patient characteristics between children who attended a pediatric emergency department (ED) with unplanned reattendances (UR) and those without UR. We also aimed to study the association between healthcare delivery factors such as timing of the attendance, patient load, changeover months for rotating junior doctors, presence of supervision, and rate of …

The Effect Of Stimulus Payments On College Students: Ex-Ante Perceptions And Reality, Rohan Angadi, Vidhura Sbw Tennekoon

Midwest Social Sciences Journal

In this paper, we use a natural experiment to measure the impact of a transitory positive income shock on college education. On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act was signed into law. This act made provisions for the third round of Economic Impact Payment for eligible US residents. Each person in an eligible family received up to $1,400. This stimulus payment was an exogenous positive income shock on US college students if they received the payment. Using primary data collected through a survey, we first investigate how US college students were affected by and responded to this income …

Effects Of Neuroticism–Anxiety And Sociability Personality Traits On The Relationship Between Testosterone And Risk Propensity In Finance, Urša Ferjančič, Fajko Bajrović, Aljoša Valentinčič

Economic and Business Review

Risky financial decisions, defined as rational calculations between expected risk and reward, are subject to various psychological and neurobiological mechanisms. In this context, the relationship between testosterone levels and risk propensity has been investigated, but the results are inconsistent. Here, the effects of some personality traits, neuroticism–anxiety and sociability, on the relationship between testosterone levels and risk propensity were examined in decisions under risk (GDT) and under uncertainty (BART). In a mixed-sex sample of 100 graduate students and experienced decision makers, we found that basal testosterone levels were positively correlated with risk propensity for decisions under risk in males with …

Willingness To Pay And Market Potential For Biowrap: An Economic Study Of A New Biodegradable Mulch Product In Home Gardening, Gengchen Cai

Department of Agricultural Economics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This study explores the market potential of BioWRAP, a biodegradable sprayable weed suppression product, by assessing the willingness to pay (WTP) among American home gardeners. Traditional plastic mulch offers significant agronomic benefits but poses considerable environmental challenges, making BioWRAP a promising alternative due to its similar benefits and reduced environmental impact. Using a double-bounded contingent valuation method, we analyze the WTP for BioWRAP among different demographic groups and gardening practices. Our findings indicate that the highest WTP for BioWRAP is among home gardeners who currently use chemical sprays for weed suppression, followed by those using physical barriers, with the lowest …

The Importance Of Sampling Frequency For Estimates Of Well-Being Dynamics, Stephen James Hoskins, David W. Johnston, Johannes S. Kunz, Michael A. Shields, Kevin E. Staub

ROSA Journal Articles and Publications

Using a high-frequency panel survey, we examine the sensitivity of estimated self-reported well-being (SWB) dynamics to using monthly, quarterly, and yearly data. This is an important issue if SWB is to be used to evaluate policy. Results from autoregressive models that account for individual-level heterogeneity indicate that the estimated persistence using yearly data is near zero. However, estimated persistence from monthly and quarterly data is substantial. We estimate that persistence to shocks typically lasts around six months and has a net present value of 75–80 per cent of the contemporaneous effect. Estimates are similar for different domains of SWB.

Diverse Pathways To Permanent Childlessness In Singapore: A Latent Class Analysis, Yanwen Wang, Bussarawan Teerawichitchainan, Christine Ho

Research Collection School Of Economics

The proportions of adults reaching midlife without having children have been rising rapidly across the globe, particularly in Asia. However, little is known about the pathways to permanent childlessness within the region’s childless population. This study utilized latent class analysis (LCA) to typologize pathways to childlessness based on dynamic characteristics of multiple life domains (i.e., partnership, education, and occupation) among 489 childless Singaporeans aged 50 and above from a 2022 nationwide survey. Additionally, we utilized multinomial logistic regressions to examine the sociodemographic correlates of pathway profiles and Shannon’s entropy index to assess the heterogeneity in pathways to childlessness among successive …