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Louis Putterman Ph.D.

About

Louis Putterman, Ph.D., is a behavioral economist and professor at Brown University. He researches why we've been unable to build a more equitable society conducive to human flourishing. In 2020, Putterman launched the website https://www.louisputterman.com/ to discuss issues of social justice and current affairs. He tweets at https://twitter.com/LPBetterWorld.

Books by Louis Putterman Ph.D.
Recent Posts
Who Really Cares About Democracy?
How can one gauge sentiment for democracy in places where free speech is tightly suppressed? A new technique appears to pick up underlying valence without attracting censorship.
Identity and Violence
A Personal Perspective: A Canadian-Israeli peace activist's funeral on October 7 evokes a meditation on the uncommonness of transcendent humanity.
Big Tech and Its Discontents
Economists Daron Acemoglu and Simon Johnson explain why technological progress is doing more for corporate bottom lines than for most people's quality of life lately.
The Psychological Silver Lining of Faceless Bureaucracy

Why do we let impersonal authority figures enforce rules? Doing so may be psychologically easier when even a small amount of doubt is present, research finds.

Why do we let impersonal authority figures enforce rules? Doing so may be psychologically easier when even a small amount of doubt is present, research finds.

Universal Versus Tribal Psychology

Why is the West psychologically peculiar and how did it become relatively rich? Explaining the past is one thing. Preparing for the future is a bigger challenge.

Why is the West psychologically peculiar and how did it become relatively rich? Explaining the past is one thing. Preparing for the future is a bigger challenge.

justice and fair punishment
Getting Others to Do Their Fair Share, Fairly

More evidence that humans are a cooperative species: cooperators pay to monitor, not punish blindly.

More evidence that humans are a cooperative species: cooperators pay to monitor, not punish blindly.

Total Selfishness Has Few Legs to Stand On

The Prisoner's Dilemma is one example of how hyper-rational self-interest derails our shared welfare. The social dilemma game Centipede adds emphasis in spades.

The Prisoner's Dilemma is one example of how hyper-rational self-interest derails our shared welfare. The social dilemma game Centipede adds emphasis in spades.

Behavioral economists see partisan good, threat, in America

Competition between contending views can fuel civic engagement, but until we've put needed checks in place, our aspirations towards democracy may well prove to be in vain.

Competition between contending views can fuel civic engagement, but until we've put needed checks in place, our aspirations towards democracy may well prove to be in vain.