More Than Good Intentions
Encyclopedia
More Than Good Intentions: How a New Economics is Helping to Solve Global Poverty is a non-fiction book by Yale
economist
Dean Karlan
and field researcher Jacob Appel published in 2011. It combines insights from behavioral economics with field research
from developing countries
to discuss and evaluate international development
and poverty
-alleviation programs. The authors describe the book as “...a new way to understand what really works to reduce poverty...”
in April 2011 as a 320-page hardcover (ISBN 978-0525951896).
could be successful if simply given more funding
; on the other, the argument that present efforts are fundamentally flawed . It also discusses current and emerging development programs and their impacts . Karlan and Appel present their own work and draw on the research
of many others in a variety of fields including economics
, health
, agriculture
, and education
. The authors argue that small changes in banking, insurance, health care, and other development initiatives that take into account human irrationality
can drastically improve the well-being of the poor
.
. The book is divided into 12 chapters
, each focused on an activity common to all socioeconomic
levels, such as “To Buy”, “To Learn”, and “To Mate."
(Dan Ariely
, 2008) and Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness (Richard Thaler
and Cass Sunstein
, 2008) , as well as traditional empirical economics and econometrics
. The authors advocate for the use of randomized control trials (RCTs)—a quantitative research
method—to measure the impacts of poverty alleviation programs.
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
Dean Karlan
Dean Karlan
Dean Karlan is a Professor of Economics at Yale University and a Research Fellow at the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology...
and field researcher Jacob Appel published in 2011. It combines insights from behavioral economics with field research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
from developing countries
Developing country
A developing country, also known as a less-developed country, is a nation with a low level of material well-being. Since no single definition of the term developing country is recognized internationally, the levels of development may vary widely within so-called developing countries...
to discuss and evaluate international development
International development
International development or global development is a concept that lacks a universally accepted definition, but it is most used in a holistic and multi-disciplinary context of human development — the development of greater quality of life for humans...
and poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
-alleviation programs. The authors describe the book as “...a new way to understand what really works to reduce poverty...”
Publishing Information
The book was published by Dutton PressE. P. Dutton
E. P. Dutton was an American book publishing company founded as a book retailer in Boston, Massachusetts in 1852 by Edward Payson Dutton. In 1986, the company was acquired by Penguin Group and split into two imprints: Dutton Penguin and Dutton Children's Books.-History:Edward Payson Dutton founded...
in April 2011 as a 320-page hardcover (ISBN 978-0525951896).
Overview
The book attempts to cut a middle path between two poles of the public debate about global development: on one side, the argument that current approaches to poverty reductionPoverty reduction
Poverty is the state of human beings who are poor. That is, they have little or no material means of surviving—little or no food, shelter, clothes, healthcare, education, and other physical means of living and improving one's life....
could be successful if simply given more funding
Funding
Funding is the act of providing resources, usually in form of money , or other values such as effort or time , for a project, a person, a business or any other private or public institutions...
; on the other, the argument that present efforts are fundamentally flawed . It also discusses current and emerging development programs and their impacts . Karlan and Appel present their own work and draw on the research
Research
Research can be defined as the scientific search for knowledge, or as any systematic investigation, to establish novel facts, solve new or existing problems, prove new ideas, or develop new theories, usually using a scientific method...
of many others in a variety of fields including economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
, agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, and education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
. The authors argue that small changes in banking, insurance, health care, and other development initiatives that take into account human irrationality
Irrationality
Irrationality is cognition, thinking, talking or acting without inclusion of rationality. It is more specifically described as an action or opinion given through inadequate reasoning, emotional distress, or cognitive deficiency...
can drastically improve the well-being of the poor
Poor
Poor is an adjective related to a state of poverty, low quality or pity.People with the surname Poor:* Charles Henry Poor, a US Navy officer* Charles Lane Poor, an astronomer* Edward Erie Poor, a vice president of the National Park Bank...
.
Structure
The book combines reporting on academic research with journalistic anecdotes from the authors’ experiences conducting research in developing countries and is primarily considered to be part of the economics genreGenre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
. The book is divided into 12 chapters
Chapters
Chapters is a Canadian big box bookstore banner owned by Indigo Books and Music. Formerly a company in its own right competing with Indigo, the combined company has continued to operate both banners since their merger in 2001.-History:...
, each focused on an activity common to all socioeconomic
Socioeconomics
Socioeconomics or socio-economics or social economics is an umbrella term with different usages. 'Social economics' may refer broadly to the "use of economics in the study of society." More narrowly, contemporary practice considers behavioral interactions of individuals and groups through social...
levels, such as “To Buy”, “To Learn”, and “To Mate."
Research methods
The authors draw upon economic tools, psychological insights and empirical studies in their discussion of global poverty issues. They apply concepts from the discipline of behavioral economics, an approach featured in the popular press books Predictably IrrationalPredictably Irrational
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions is a 2008 book by Dan Ariely, in which he challenges readers' assumptions about making decisions based on rational thought. Ariely explains, "My goal, by the end of this book, is to help you fundamentally rethink what makes you and...
(Dan Ariely
Dan Ariely
Dan Ariely is an Israeli American professor of psychology and behavioral economics. He teaches at Duke University and is the founder of The Center for Advanced Hindsight.-Biography:...
, 2008) and Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness (Richard Thaler
Richard Thaler
Richard H. Thaler is an American economist and the Ralph and Dorothy Keller Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business...
and Cass Sunstein
Cass Sunstein
Cass R. Sunstein is an American legal scholar, particularly in the fields of constitutional law, administrative law, environmental law, and law and behavioral economics, who currently is the Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Obama administration...
, 2008) , as well as traditional empirical economics and econometrics
Econometrics
Econometrics has been defined as "the application of mathematics and statistical methods to economic data" and described as the branch of economics "that aims to give empirical content to economic relations." More precisely, it is "the quantitative analysis of actual economic phenomena based on...
. The authors advocate for the use of randomized control trials (RCTs)—a quantitative research
Quantitative research
In the social sciences, quantitative research refers to the systematic empirical investigation of social phenomena via statistical, mathematical or computational techniques. The objective of quantitative research is to develop and employ mathematical models, theories and/or hypotheses pertaining to...
method—to measure the impacts of poverty alleviation programs.
Quotation
- “When we think about poverty…in concrete terms, we begin to see a path forward. Actually, many paths forward. The possible solutions are as numerous and as varied as the people they serve and the needs they address. To find them we need to think creatively, cast a wide net, and recognize that we are unlikely to find one single answer for everybody. At the same time, we must be methodical and tenacious. If a development program is supposed to help solve a specific, concrete problem, let’s put it to a specific, concrete test. If it passes, great. If not, fix it or try something else. In this way, step by step, we can refine the tools we use and the ways we use them; we can make real progress against poverty.” (38)