Although there are many determinants of face mask-avoidance and related risky behaviors, one key factor is perceived severity of COVID-19. Understanding such health perceptions is necessary for influencing and improving behavior during the crisis. Considerable research in psychology and marketing has found that people are not good at evaluating the severity of different health conditions. …Read More
Can private insurance encourage homeowners to adapt their properties in order to reduce escalating flood losses from climate change? A recent study finds substantial demand for a novel supplementary flood insurance product that funds low-cost adaptations to reduce future damage when rebuilding after a flood—and shows that auto-enrollment increases that demand.…Read More
Katie Collier, a senior at the School of Arts and Sciences, discusses how alternative proteins can provide the hedonic experience of real meat without negative environmental externalities despite some barriers still needing to be overcome.…Read More
Originally in The Hill, Risk Center Co-Directors, Howard Kunreuther and Robert Meyer, discuss cognitive biases, like myopia and inertia, that prevent people from taking climate action like investing in solar power in this op-ed.…Read More
COVID-19 has disrupted nearly every aspect of daily life and captured the world’s attention. Governments, nonprofits, and individuals have directed billions of dollars to COVID-19 relief. Although these efforts are commendable, the attention to the pandemic likely overshadows the urgency of other causes for which donations translate to proven impact. …Read More
California has faced challenges over the years in convincing communities and property owners to adopt land use measures to reduce the likelihood of a fire spreading, notably in areas that are most prone to this risk: the wildland-urban interface (WUI). California’s current fires are a reminder of the need for undertaking strategic measures now to reduce future wildfires.…Read More
Cultural items, such as songs, books, movies, etc. influence their consumers’ behavior. At the same time, they also represent the setting and environment they are produced in. Dr. Reihane Boghrati discusses her research on misogyny in music in this blog post.…Read More
The Catalyst: How to Change Anyone’s Mind, a new book by Risk Center Senior Fellow Jonah Berger, introduces a revolutionary approach to change. “Successful change isn’t about pushing harder or exerting more energy. It’s about removing barriers.”…Read More
While there are a number of non-behavioral factors that affect households’ decision to purchase flood insurance, such as ability-to-pay and lack of information about risk or insurance, behavioral biases likely play a large role.…Read More
