Experiments about institutions
Institutions are a key determinant of economic growth, but the critical junctures in which
institutions can change are not precisely defined. For example, such junctures are often …
institutions can change are not precisely defined. For example, such junctures are often …
The power of the street: Evidence from Egypt's Arab Spring
Unprecedented street protests brought down Mubarak's government and ushered in an era
of competition between three rival political groups in Egypt. Using daily variation in the …
of competition between three rival political groups in Egypt. Using daily variation in the …
History, expectations, and leadership in the evolution of social norms
We study the evolution of a social norm of “cooperation” in a dynamic environment. Each
agent lives for two periods and interacts with agents from the previous and next generations …
agent lives for two periods and interacts with agents from the previous and next generations …
[ΒΙΒΛΙΟ][B] Brazil in transition: Beliefs, leadership, and institutional change
Brazil is the world's sixth-largest economy, and for the first three-quarters of the twentieth
century was one of the fastest-growing countries in the world. While the country underwent …
century was one of the fastest-growing countries in the world. While the country underwent …
Making policies matter: Voter responses to campaign promises
Can voters in clientelist countries be swayed by programmatic promises? Results from a
structural model and a field experiment disseminating candidate policy platforms in …
structural model and a field experiment disseminating candidate policy platforms in …
Exporting democratic practices: Evidence from a village governance intervention in Eastern Congo
We study a randomized Community Driven Reconstruction (CDR) intervention that provided
two years of exposure to democratic practices in 1250 villages in eastern Congo. To assess …
two years of exposure to democratic practices in 1250 villages in eastern Congo. To assess …
A theory of equality before the law
We propose a simple model of the emergence of equality before the law. A society can
support effort ('cooperation','prosocial behaviour') using the carrot of future cooperation or …
support effort ('cooperation','prosocial behaviour') using the carrot of future cooperation or …
Citizen attitudes toward traditional and state authorities: substitutes or complements?
Do citizens view state and traditional authorities as substitutes or complements? Past work
has been divided on this question. Some scholars point to competition between attitudes …
has been divided on this question. Some scholars point to competition between attitudes …
The institutional components of political corruption 1
The misuse of public office for private or partisan gain—political corruption, in short—is as
ancient as the art of politics itself. Its contemporary study began in the 1990s, with the public …
ancient as the art of politics itself. Its contemporary study began in the 1990s, with the public …