Global Livelihoods

Why Soft Skills Development Programs Need Behavioral Science

by Wen Wen Teh

The nature of work is changing, and so are the skills required to be successful. While technical or ‘hard’ skills are essential for most jobs, there is growing evidence that ‘soft skills’ such as problem-solving, teamwork, and resilience play a key role in job market success. This is especially critical in low- and even middle-income […]

International Women’s Day: Breaking the Bias With Behavioral Science

by ideas42

International Women’s Day is a day of reflection—an acknowledgment that women around the world have long faced barriers to equal economic and social opportunities, and health services (and by extension outcomes). While at times it might seem like many women are fighting an uphill battle with challenging policy environments and resource constraints, behavioral science can […]

Black History Month: Honoring Black Behavioral Scientists

by ideas42

In the U.S., Black History Month is a time to reflect on the contributions made by Black people in all walks of life, across all industries and in all parts of our society. It’s also a time to celebrate and amplify the voices of those in the Black community and reflect on those who inspire […]

How Do You Plan for the Future When the Value of Money Has a Time Limit? Initial Insights from Cash Transfers in South Sudan

by Nadia Selim, Social Protection Specialist, World Bank; Sumaira Sagheer, Senior Communications Specialist, World Bank; Janet Maya, Communications Officer, UNOPS; and Catherine MacLeod, Senior Associate, ideas42

Saving money, or spending it in ways to support long-term goals, is difficult for anyone. Living in extreme poverty makes it even more challenging and is almost inconceivable during a global pandemic that continues to disrupt lives and livelihoods. In South Sudan, high levels of poverty, exacerbated by decades of conflict, escalating food insecurity, shortages […]

Honoring Black Behavioral Scientists and Examining the Psychology of Race in History

by ideas42

People often (erroneously) believe that a few leaders are responsible for the development of an emerging field, an idea, or event in history because of perceived “natural attributes” such as superior intelligence. This is known as “great man” theory–a flawed theory, of course, because in reality it is the tireless work of countless people that […]

How Can Behavioral Science Help Improve Economic Outcomes for Women?

by Catherine MacLeod, ideas42, and Sarika Gupta, the World Bank

Eleanor, a young woman living in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, wants to start a business to improve her family’s life. As a young girl, she saw the women in her life braiding hair – her aunt worked at a hair salon, and her mother taught her how to braid. When deciding what kind of […]

Our Top Behavioral Science Highlights of the Year (Goodbye, 2020)

by ideas42

It’s become tradition of sorts that each December, we reflect on the year behind us and celebrate the newest evidence and social impact generated by behavioral science. Of course, 2020 is a difficult year to look back on with much fondness. And yet, even in one of the more challenging years in living memory, we […]