Date: April 4th, 2024 (12:30 pm – 1:30 pm)

Speaker: Björn Bartling

Paper Title: “Paternalistic Interventions: Determinants of Demand and Supply”, with Krishna Srinivasan (University of Zurich)

Abstract: People sometimes engage in behaviors that negatively impact their well-being, creating opportunities for paternalistic interventions by governments, experts, or parents. Our study explores when and why individuals choose to intervene to enhance someone else’s welfare. Additionally, we investigate when and why individuals seek out paternalistic interventions. We conducted an experiment with a general population sample in the U.S. to examine the role of freedom of choice, rights to consent, confidence, and trust in shaping attitudes towards paternalistic interventions. A better understanding of these attitudes can contribute to the design of more effective policies.

Bio:

Björn Bartling is Professor of Economics at the University of Zurich and Vice Chairman of the Department of Economics. In his research, he uses empirical methods to study the impact of social and moral motivations in economic contexts. 

Professor Bartling is also a Visiting Professor at the Centre for Experimental Research on Fairness, Inequality and Rationality (FAIR) – The Choice Lab, NHH Norwegian School of Economics, and serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of the European Economic Association and for Management Science.