The behavioral turn in development economics: A tentative account through the lens of economic methodology

Vol. 37 No. 2 (2017)

Apr-Jun / 2017
Published February 26, 2020
PDF-English
PDF-English

How to Cite

Muramatsu, Roberta, and Flavia Avila. 2017. “The Behavioral Turn in Development Economics: A Tentative Account through the Lens of Economic Methodology”. Brazilian Journal of Political Economy 37 (2):363-80. https://doi.org/10.1590/0101-31572017v37n02a06.

The behavioral turn in development economics: A tentative account through the lens of economic methodology

Roberta Muramatsu
Adjunct Professor of Economics, Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie,
Flavia Avila
Posgraduate Program Coordinator and Lecturer of Behavioural Economics, ESPM - Escola Superior de Propaganda e Marketing,
Brazilian Journal of Political Economy, Vol. 37 No. 2 (2017), Apr-Jun / 2017, Pages 363-380

Abstract

This paper aims to provide an interpretation of why behavioral economics has come into the complex field of development economics that draws on insights from methodology of economics. We engage in an extensive survey of the literature that focuses on the actual practice of “behavioral development economics and behavioral economics view of poverty” that emerged in the early years of the 21st century in order to identify and discuss some directions and implications that this movement might carry for economics science and art of Economics. 

JEL Classification: B40; B41; D11; D91.


Keywords: Behavioral economics development field experimentx methodology policy