Details about Sendhil Mullainathan

Homepage:	https://www.chicagobooth.edu/faculty/directory/m/sendhil-mullainathan
Workplace:	National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), (more information at EDIRC) Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), (more information at EDIRC) Booth School of Business, University of Chicago, (more information at EDIRC) Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), (more information at EDIRC)

Access statistics for papers by Sendhil Mullainathan.

Last updated 2023-04-06. Update your information in the RePEc Author Service.

Short-id: pmu103

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Working Papers

2021

1. A Note on the Level of Customer Support by State Governments: A Mystery-Shopping Approach
   NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (1)
2. Do Financial Concerns Make Workers Less Productive?
   Working Papers, Becker Friedman Institute for Research In Economics View citations (7)
   Also in NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (2021) View citations (7)
3. Fragile Algorithms and Fallible Decision-Makers: Lessons from the Justice System
   NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (3)
   See also Journal Article in Journal of Economic Perspectives (2021)

2020

4. An Economic Approach to Regulating Algorithms
   NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (14)
5. Scarcity and Cognitive Function around Payday: A Conceptual and Empirical Analysis
   CSAE Working Paper Series, Centre for the Study of African Economies, University of Oxford View citations (16)
   See also Journal Article in Journal of the Association for Consumer Research (2020)

2019

6. Diagnosing Physician Error: A Machine Learning Approach to Low-Value Health Care
   NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (8)
7. Discrimination In The Age Of Algorithms
   NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (7)
8. Machine-Learning Tests for Effects on Multiple Outcomes
   Papers, arXiv.org View citations (1)
9. Measuring the Completeness of Theories
   Papers, arXiv.org View citations (2)
10. Simplicity Creates Inequity: Implications for Fairness, Stereotypes, and Interpretability
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (10)

2018

11. Debt Traps? Market Vendors and Moneylender Debt in India and the Philippines
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (2)
    Also in CEPR Discussion Papers, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers (2018) View citations (2)
    Working Papers, eSocialSciences (2018) View citations (2)
    See also Journal Article in American Economic Review: Insights (2019)

2017

12. Human Decisions and Machine Predictions
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (48)
    See also Journal Article in The Quarterly Journal of Economics (2018)
13. The Theory is Predictive, but is it Complete? An Application to Human Perception of Randomness
    PIER Working Paper Archive, Penn Institute for Economic Research, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania View citations (6)
    Also in PIER Working Paper Archive, Penn Institute for Economic Research, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania (2017) View citations (6)

2015

14. Thinking, Fast and Slow? Some Field Experiments to Reduce Crime and Dropout in Chicago
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (8)
    See also Journal Article in The Quarterly Journal of Economics (2017)

2014

15. Behavioral Design: A New Approach to Development Policy
    WIDER Working Paper Series, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER) View citations (26)
    See also Journal Article in Review of Income and Wealth (2014)

2013

16. Framing Lifetime Income
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (15)
17. The Nature of the Beast: What Behavioral Economics is Not
    Working Papers, eSocialSciences

2012

18. Behavioral Hazard in Health Insurance
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (20)
    See also Journal Article in The Quarterly Journal of Economics (2015)
19. Corruption
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (2)
    Also in Scholarly Articles, Harvard Kennedy School of Government (2012) View citations (4)
    Working Papers, eSocialSciences (2012) View citations (1)
    Working Paper Series, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government (2012)
20. Energy Policy with Externalities and Internalities
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (8)
    See also Journal Article in Journal of Public Economics (2014)
21. Learning Through Noticing: Theory and Experimental Evidence in Farming
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (27)
    Also in Working Paper Series, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government (2012) View citations (18)
    CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University (2012) View citations (18)
22. Notes on Behavioral Economics and Labor Market Policy
    Scholarly Articles, Harvard University Department of Economics View citations (33)
    See also Journal Article in IZA Journal of Labor Policy (2012)
23. Site Selection Bias in Program Evaluation
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (16)
24. The Market for Financial Advice: An Audit Study
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (191)

2011

25. Comparison Friction: Experimental Evidence from Medicare Drug Plans
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (12)
    Also in Mathematica Policy Research Reports, Mathematica Policy Research View citations (73)
    See also Journal Article in The Quarterly Journal of Economics (2012)
26. Mechanism Experiments and Policy Evaluations
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (80)
    See also Journal Article in Journal of Economic Perspectives (2011)

2010

27. Getting to the Top of Mind: How Reminders Increase Saving
    Center Discussion Papers, Yale University, Economic Growth Center View citations (89)
    Also in Working Papers, Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, Center for Retirement Research (2010) View citations (82)
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (2010) View citations (87)
    CEPR Discussion Papers, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers (2010) View citations (87)
    Working Papers, Yale University, Department of Economics (2010) View citations (98)
    Working Papers, eSocialSciences (2010) View citations (29)
    Working Papers, Economic Growth Center, Yale University (2010) View citations (87)
28. The Shape of Temptation: Implications for the Economic Lives of the Poor
    Working Papers, eSocialSciences View citations (196)
    Also in NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (2010) View citations (208)
    CEPR Discussion Papers, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers (2010) View citations (204)

2009

29. Behavioral Economics and Tax Policy
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (43)
    See also Journal Article in National Tax Journal (2009)
30. What's Advertising Content Worth? Evidence from a Consumer Credit Marketing Field Experiment
    Center Discussion Papers, Yale University, Economic Growth Center View citations (11)
    Also in Working Papers, Yale University, Department of Economics (2009) View citations (16)
    Working Papers, Economic Growth Center, Yale University (2009) View citations (8)
    See also Journal Article in The Quarterly Journal of Economics (2010)

2008

31. Affirmative Action in Education: Evidence From Engineering College Admissions in India
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (17)
    See also Journal Article in Journal of Public Economics (2010)
32. Coarse Thinking and Persuasion
    Scholarly Articles, Harvard University Department of Economics View citations (174)
    Also in NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (2006) View citations (79)
    See also Journal Article in The Quarterly Journal of Economics (2008)
33. Limited Attention and Income Distribution
    Scholarly Articles, Harvard University Department of Economics View citations (69)
    See also Journal Article in American Economic Review (2008)
34. Why Don't People Insure Late Life Consumption: A Framing Explanation of the Under-Annuitization Puzzle
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (145)
    Also in Scholarly Articles, Harvard University Department of Economics (2008) View citations (137)
    See also Journal Article in American Economic Review (2008)

2007

35. Sticking with Your Vote: Cognitive Dissonance Voting
    Working Papers, Yale University, Department of Economics View citations (2)
    Also in NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (2006) View citations (5)
    See also Journal Article in American Economic Journal: Applied Economics (2009)

2006

36. Behavioral Economics and Marketing in Aid of Decision Making Among the Poor
    Scholarly Articles, Harvard University Department of Economics View citations (88)
37. Does Corruption Produce Unsafe Drivers?
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (25)
    Also in Natural Field Experiments, The Field Experiments Website (2006) View citations (12)
38. What's psychology worth? A field experiment in the consumer credit market
    Natural Field Experiments, The Field Experiments Website View citations (7)
    Also in Center Discussion Papers, Yale University, Economic Growth Center (2005) View citations (45)
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (2005) View citations (33)
    Working Papers, Economic Growth Center, Yale University (2005) View citations (55)

2005

39. Persuasion in Finance
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (14)
40. Profitable Investments or Dissipated Cash? Evidence on the Investment-Cash Flow Relationship From Oil and Gas Lease Bidding
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (7)
    Also in Harvard Institute of Economic Research Working Papers, Harvard - Institute of Economic Research (2005) View citations (4)

2004

41. A Behavioral Economics View of Poverty
    Scholarly Articles, Harvard University Department of Economics View citations (132)
    See also Journal Article in American Economic Review (2004)

2003

42. Are Emily and Greg More Employable than Lakisha and Jamal? A Field Experiment on Labor Market Discrimination
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (79)
    Also in Natural Field Experiments, The Field Experiments Website (2003) View citations (69)
    See also Journal Article in American Economic Review (2004)
43. Enjoying the Quiet Life? Corporate Governance and Managerial Preferences
    Scholarly Articles, Harvard University Department of Economics View citations (1028)
    See also Journal Article in Journal of Political Economy (2003)

2002

44. Do Cigarette Taxes Make Smokers Happier?
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (91)
    See also Journal Article in The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy (2005)
    Chapter (2006)
45. How Much Should We Trust Differences-in-Differences Estimates?
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (326)
    See also Journal Article in The Quarterly Journal of Economics (2004)
46. Media Bias
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (12)
    Also in Harvard Institute of Economic Research Working Papers, Harvard - Institute of Economic Research (2002) View citations (8)
    See also Journal Article in American Economic Review (2005)

2000

47. Agents With and Without Principals
    Working Papers, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section. View citations (51)
    See also Journal Article in American Economic Review (2000)
48. Behavioral Economics
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (94)
49. Do CEOs Set Their Own Pay? The Ones Without Principals Do
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (23)
    Also in Working Papers, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section. (2000) View citations (20)
50. Ferreting Out Tunneling: An Application to Indian Business Groups
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (39)
    See also Journal Article in The Quarterly Journal of Economics (2002)
51. Public Policy and Extended Families: Evidence from South Africa
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (9)
    Also in Working Papers, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section. (1999) View citations (1)
    See also Journal Article in The World Bank Economic Review (2003)

1999

52. Network Effects and Welfare Cultures
    Working Papers, Harris School of Public Policy Studies, University of Chicago
    Also in Working Papers, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section. (1998) View citations (6)
    Working papers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Department of Economics (1998) View citations (24)
    Working Papers, Princeton, Woodrow Wilson School - Public and International Affairs (1998) View citations (5)
    JCPR Working Papers, Northwestern University/University of Chicago Joint Center for Poverty Research (1999) View citations (12)
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (1998) View citations (7)
    See also Journal Article in The Quarterly Journal of Economics (2000)

1998

53. Executive Compensation and Incentives: The Impact of Takeover Legislation
    Working papers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Department of Economics View citations (16)
    Also in Working Papers, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section. (1998) View citations (15)
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (1998) View citations (18)
    Working Papers, Princeton, Woodrow Wilson School - Public and International Affairs (1998) View citations (17)
54. Is There Discretion in Wage Setting? A Test Using Takeover Legislation
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (1)
    Also in Working Papers, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Industrial Relations Section. (1998) View citations (1)
    Working Papers, Princeton, Woodrow Wilson School - Public and International Affairs (1998) View citations (1)
    Working papers, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Department of Economics (1998) View citations (1)
    See also Journal Article in RAND Journal of Economics (1999)

Undated

55. Megastudies Improve the Impact of Applied Behavioural Science
    Mathematica Policy Research Reports, Mathematica Policy Research
    See also Journal Article in Nature (2021)

Journal Articles

2022

1. A 680,000-person megastudy of nudges to encourage vaccination in pharmacies
   Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2022, 119, (6), e2115126119 View citations (1)
2. Erratum: Self-Control at Work
   Journal of Political Economy, 2022, 130, (8), 2223 - 2224
3. Measuring the Completeness of Economic Models
   Journal of Political Economy, 2022, 130, (4), 956 - 990 View citations (4)

2021

4. Fragile Algorithms and Fallible Decision-Makers: Lessons from the Justice System
   Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2021, 35, (4), 71-96 View citations (3)
   See also Working Paper (2021)
5. Integrating explanation and prediction in computational social science
   Nature, 2021, 595, (7866), 181-188 View citations (13)
6. Megastudies improve the impact of applied behavioural science
   Nature, 2021, 600, (7889), 478-483 View citations (14)
   See also Working Paper
7. On the Inequity of Predicting A While Hoping for B
   AEA Papers and Proceedings, 2021, 111, 37-42

2020

8. An Economic Perspective on Algorithmic Fairness
   AEA Papers and Proceedings, 2020, 110, 91-95 View citations (5)
9. Scarcity and Cognitive Function around Payday: A Conceptual and Empirical Analysis
   Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, 2020, 5, (4), 365 - 376 View citations (15)
   See also Working Paper (2020)

2019

10. An exercise in self-replication: Replicating Shah, Mullainathan, and Shafir (2012)
    Journal of Economic Psychology, 2019, 75, (PA) View citations (12)
11. Augmenting Pre-Analysis Plans with Machine Learning
    AEA Papers and Proceedings, 2019, 109, 71-76 View citations (4)
12. Debt Traps? Market Vendors and Moneylender Debt in India and the Philippines
    American Economic Review: Insights, 2019, 1, (1), 27-42 View citations (7)
    See also Working Paper (2018)

2018

13. Algorithmic Fairness
    AEA Papers and Proceedings, 2018, 108, 22-27 View citations (17)
14. An opportunity for self-replication
    Nature Human Behaviour, 2018, 2, (9), 603-603 View citations (1)
15. Human Decisions and Machine Predictions
    The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2018, 133, (1), 237-293 View citations (100)
    See also Working Paper (2017)

2017

16. Does Machine Learning Automate Moral Hazard and Error?
    American Economic Review, 2017, 107, (5), 476-80 View citations (19)
17. Machine Learning: An Applied Econometric Approach
    Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2017, 31, (2), 87-106 View citations (501)
18. Thinking, Fast and Slow? Some Field Experiments to Reduce Crime and Dropout in Chicago
    The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2017, 132, (1), 1-54 View citations (102)
    See also Working Paper (2015)

2016

19. Productivity and Selection of Human Capital with Machine Learning
    American Economic Review, 2016, 106, (5), 124-27 View citations (45)
20. The Psychological Lives of the Poor
    American Economic Review, 2016, 106, (5), 435-40 View citations (82)

2015

21. Behavioral Hazard in Health Insurance
    The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2015, 130, (4), 1623-1667 View citations (78)
    See also Working Paper (2012)
22. Prediction Policy Problems
    American Economic Review, 2015, 105, (5), 491-95 View citations (141)
23. Self-Control at Work
    Journal of Political Economy, 2015, 123, (6), 1227 - 1277 View citations (105)

2014

24. Behavioral Design: A New Approach to Development Policy
    Review of Income and Wealth, 2014, 60, (1), 7-35 View citations (33)
    See also Working Paper (2014)
25. Energy policy with externalities and internalities
    Journal of Public Economics, 2014, 112, (C), 72-88 View citations (124)
    See also Working Paper (2012)
26. Learning Through Noticing: Theory and Evidence from a Field Experiment
    The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2014, 129, (3), 1311-1353 View citations (160)

2013

27. Targeting with Agents
    American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 2013, 5, (1), 206-38 View citations (38)

2012

28. A Reduced-Form Approach to Behavioral Public Finance
    Annual Review of Economics, 2012, 4, (1), 511-540 View citations (74)
29. Comparison Friction: Experimental Evidence from Medicare Drug Plans
    The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2012, 127, (1), 199-235 View citations (183)
    See also Working Paper (2011)
30. Do Judges Vary in Their Treatment of Race?
    The Journal of Legal Studies, 2012, 41, (2), 347 - 383 View citations (106)
31. Notes on behavioral economics and labor market policy
    IZA Journal of Labor Policy, 2012, 1, (1), 1-14 View citations (33)
    See also Working Paper (2012)

2011

32. Helping Consumers Know Themselves
    American Economic Review, 2011, 101, (3), 417-22 View citations (20)
33. Mechanism Experiments and Policy Evaluations
    Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2011, 25, (3), 17-38 View citations (77)
    See also Working Paper (2011)

2010

34. Affirmative action in education: Evidence from engineering college admissions in India
    Journal of Public Economics, 2010, 94, (1-2), 16-29 View citations (104)
    See also Working Paper (2008)
35. Self-Control and the Development of Work Arrangements
    American Economic Review, 2010, 100, (2), 624-28 View citations (55)
36. What's Advertising Content Worth? Evidence from a Consumer Credit Marketing Field Experiment
    The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2010, 125, (1), 263-306 View citations (152)
    See also Working Paper (2009)

2009

37. Behavioral Economics and Tax Policy
    National Tax Journal, 2009, 62, (3), 375-86 View citations (45)
    See also Working Paper (2009)
38. Labor market discrimination in Delhi: Evidence from a field experiment
    Journal of Comparative Economics, 2009, 37, (1), 14-27 View citations (86)
39. Sticking with Your Vote: Cognitive Dissonance and Political Attitudes
    American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 2009, 1, (1), 86-111 View citations (92)
    See also Working Paper (2007)

2008

40. Coarse Thinking and Persuasion
    The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2008, 123, (2), 577-619 View citations (187)
    See also Working Paper (2008)
41. Limited Attention and Income Distribution
    American Economic Review, 2008, 98, (2), 489-93 View citations (69)
    See also Working Paper (2008)
42. Why Donât People Insure Late-Life Consumption? A Framing Explanation of the Under-Annuitization Puzzle
    American Economic Review, 2008, 98, (2), 304-09 View citations (160)
    See also Working Paper (2008)

2007

43. Obtaining a Driver's License in India: An Experimental Approach to Studying Corruption
    The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2007, 122, (4), 1639-1676 View citations (53)

2005

44. Do Cigarette Taxes Make Smokers Happier
    The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, 2005, 5, (1), 1-45 View citations (213)
    See also Working Paper (2002)
    Chapter (2006)
45. Implicit Discrimination
    American Economic Review, 2005, 95, (2), 94-98 View citations (216)
46. Market Efficiency versus Behavioral Finance
    Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, 2005, 17, (3), 124-136 View citations (8)
47. Psychology, Behavioral Economics, and Public Policy
    Marketing Letters, 2005, 16, (3), 443-454 View citations (17)
48. The Market for News
    American Economic Review, 2005, 95, (4), 1031-1053 View citations (426)
    See also Working Paper (2002)

2004

49. A Behavioral-Economics View of Poverty
    American Economic Review, 2004, 94, (2), 419-423 View citations (139)
    See also Working Paper (2004)
50. Are Emily and Greg More Employable Than Lakisha and Jamal? A Field Experiment on Labor Market Discrimination
    American Economic Review, 2004, 94, (4), 991-1013 View citations (1383)
    See also Working Paper (2003)
51. How Much Should We Trust Differences-In-Differences Estimates?
    The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2004, 119, (1), 249-275 View citations (5319)
    See also Working Paper (2002)

2003

52. Enjoying the Quiet Life? Corporate Governance and Managerial Preferences
    Journal of Political Economy, 2003, 111, (5), 1043-1075 View citations (1047)
    See also Working Paper (2003)
53. Public Policy and Extended Families: Evidence from Pensions in South Africa
    The World Bank Economic Review, 2003, 17, (1), 27-50 View citations (150)
    See also Working Paper (2000)
54. Pyramids
    Journal of the European Economic Association, 2003, 1, (2-3), 478-483

2002

55. A Memory-Based Model of Bounded Rationality
    The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2002, 117, (3), 735-774 View citations (220)
56. Ferreting out Tunneling: An Application to Indian Business Groups
    The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2002, 117, (1), 121-148 View citations (558)
    See also Working Paper (2000)

2001

57. Are CEOs Rewarded for Luck? The Ones Without Principals Are
    The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2001, 116, (3), 901-932 View citations (586)
58. Do Firm Boundaries Matter?
    American Economic Review, 2001, 91, (2), 195-199 View citations (35)
59. Do People Mean What They Say? Implications for Subjective Survey Data
    American Economic Review, 2001, 91, (2), 67-72 View citations (799)

2000

60. Agents with and without Principals
    American Economic Review, 2000, 90, (2), 203-208 View citations (57)
    See also Working Paper (2000)
61. Network Effects and Welfare Cultures
    The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2000, 115, (3), 1019-1055 View citations (514)
    See also Working Paper (1999)

1999

62. Is There a Discretion in Wage Setting? A Test Using Takeover Legislation
    RAND Journal of Economics, 1999, 30, (3), 535-554 View citations (108)
    See also Working Paper (1998)

Chapters

2023

1. Health Data Platforms
   A chapter in The Economics of Artificial Intelligence: Health Care Challenges, 2023

2014

2. Contract Farming and Agricultural Productivity in Western Kenya
   A chapter in African Successes, Volume IV: Sustainable Growth, 2014, pp 137-160 View citations (2)

2010

3. Does Less Market Entry Regulation Generate More Entrepreneurs? Evidence from a Regulatory Reform in Peru
   A chapter in International Differences in Entrepreneurship, 2010, pp 159-177 View citations (19)

2006

4. Do Cigarette Taxes Make Smokers Happier?
   Palgrave Macmillan View citations (14)
   See also Working Paper (2002)
   Journal Article in The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy (2005)