- 06 Oct 2020
- Working Paper Summaries
Optimal Illiquidity
This paper evaluates the optimality of retirement savings systems, finding that the best mix is a three-account system with a perfectly liquid savings account, a partially illiquid savings account (with an early-withdrawal penalty of approximately 10%), and a completely illiquid savings account.
- 22 May 2020
- In Practice
Post-COVID Health Care: More Screens, Less Red Tape?
The coronavirus pandemic might lead to major changes in patient care, physician compensation, and regulation. Experts from Harvard Business School's Health Care Initiative share their predictions. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 05 Oct 2017
- Cold Call Podcast
How to Promote Home Delivery of Prescription Drugs? Give Employees a 'Nudge'
When Express Scripts wanted to convince corporate clients to switch to home delivery of prescription drugs, they knew logic wouldn't prevail. What then? John Beshears explains the answer, psychological nudges, in this podcast. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 19 Jul 2017
- Research & Ideas
Why Government 'Nudges' Motivate Good Citizen Behavior
Research by John Beshears and colleagues finds that psychological nudges can be a cost-effective way for governments to get citizens to do the right thing. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 20 Jun 2017
- First Look
First Look at New Research and Ideas, June 20
Should governments nudge? ... A new model for describing bubbles ... Exceptional management practices in India.
- 03 Jan 2017
- Research & Ideas
5 New Year's Resolutions You Can Keep (With the Help of Behavioral Science Research)
As 2017 begins, we share some well-researched tips—based on the findings of behavioral economists at Harvard Business School—to help our readers keep some common New Year’s resolutions. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 05 Oct 2016
- Research & Ideas
Why Don't More People Get Flu Shots at Work?
The frontline battle station in the just-started influenza season is the workplace flu vaccine clinic. The problem: fewer than half of employees take advantage of them. John Beshears discusses why location makes a difference. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 15 Feb 2016
- Research & Ideas
Want Your Employees to Plan Better for Retirement? Don't Do This
Will people plan more for retirement if they know how their peers are progressing on the same goal? Research by John Beshears and colleagues finds that sharing retirement data can sometimes backfire on employers. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.
- 23 Nov 2015
- Working Paper Summaries
Self Control and Commitment: Can Decreasing the Liquidity of a Savings Account Increase Deposits?
John Beshears and colleagues find evidence to show commitment accounts can help would-be savers with self-control problems.
- 26 May 2015
- Research & Ideas
Corporate Field Researchers Share Tricks of the Trade
In a panel discussion, several professors shared practical findings and tricks-of-the-trade from recent field research. Among the discoveries: how to prompt employees to get a flu shot. Closed for comment; 1 Comment(s) posted.
- 05 Feb 2015
- Working Paper Summaries
Does Front-Loading Taxation Increase Savings? Evidence from Roth 401(k) Introductions
Choosing the right retirement savings rate is complicated. In a study of whether governments can increase private savings by taxing savings up front rather than in retirement, the authors analyze the impact of a Roth option on savings plan contributions. Results suggest that governments could increase after-tax private savings while holding the present value of taxes collected roughly constant by making savings non-deductible up front but tax exempt in retirement, rather than vice versa. Closed for comment; 0 Comment(s) posted.
- 01 Apr 2014
- Research & Ideas
When Do Alliances Make Sense?
Analyzing drilling leases in the Gulf of Mexico, John Beshears explores a question as old as business itself: When does it pay to make an alliance? Open for comment; 2 Comment(s) posted.
Unexpected Exercise Advice for the Super Busy: Ditch the Rigid Routine
Itching to get off the COVID couch? New research by John Beshears bucks conventional wisdom about what it takes to make exercise a habit. Open for comment; Comment(s) posted.