I would like to share this useful link for those of you that are always wondering: What information should you include in the abstract? How can I structure my introduction? What should I include in my oral presentation? What am I supposed to say in a panel discussion?

We all know, that communication is an integral part of our job and a crucial competence for a successful career. However, some of us do not feel prepared for it.

English Communication for Scientists is a brief guide on how to communicate more effectively in English. This guide is organized in six units:

1. basic communication strategies;
2. design and draft scientific papers;
3. e-mail, résumés, and short reports;
4. structure, support, and deliver oral presentations;
5. create and present posters, chair sessions, and participate in panels;
6. prepare, run, and evaluate classroom sessions.

Moreover, this guide provides examples, exercises and activities to improve immediately your communication skills. Very useful for students too!

In the video below, Prof. Jean Tirole (Toulouse), presents his new working paper “Narratives, Imperatives and Moral Reasoning“, a joint work with Roland Bénabou and Armin Falk. This talk was given at the annual SIOE conference in Montreal in June 2018.

Abstract: By downplaying externalities, magnifying the cost of moral behavior, or suggesting not being pivotal, exculpatory narratives can allow individuals to maintain a positive image when in fact acting in a morally questionable way. Conversely, responsibilizing narratives can help sustain better social norms. We investigate when narratives emerge from a principal or the actor himself, how they are interpreted and transmitted by others, and when they spread virally. We then turn to how narratives compete with imperatives (general moral rules or precepts) as alternative modes of communication to persuade agents to behave in desirable ways.

A copy of their paper is available here.

Prof. Shachar Kariv (Berkeley) gave a interesting talk at the Science of Sharing Forum on June 6, 2015. In his talk he answers one of the most fundamental question we can ask to ourselves: what is more important, equality or efficiency?

If you want to know more you can read his paper Distributional Preferences and Political Behavior, a joint work with Ray Fisman and Pam Jakiela. The paper has been published in the Journal of Public Economics (2017, Vol. 155, pp. 1-10).

Abstract: We document the relationship between distributional preferences and voting decisions in a large and diverse sample of Americans. Using a generalized dictator game, we generate individual-level measures of fair-mindedness (weight on oneself versus others) and equality-efficiency tradeoffs. Subjects’ equality-efficiency tradeoffs predict their political decisions: equality-focused subjects are more likely to have voted for Barack Obama in 2012, and to be affiliated with the Democratic Party. Our findings shed light on how American voters are motivated by their distributional preferences.

Are we rational? Prof. Dan Ariely (Duke) and Prof. Shachar Kariv (Berkeley), met at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya (Israel) to discuss the nature of human rationality. They presented opposite views on human rationality and its consequences for Economics. The result is an intellectually inspiring debate with much food for thought. You can decide who is the winner of this debate.

 

Mike Norton (Harvard Business School) delivered his lecture on the science behind happiness and money. Money does not buy happiness: research shows that after people hit a certain amount of income (some estimates say around $75,000 a year), the next few thousand bucks really does not affect their day to day happiness all that much. What Mike suggests is that people should stop asking themselves “Do I have enough money to be happy?” but rather “Am I using the money I have now in the best way to wring the most happiness from every dollar?”

Before clicking the play button, ask yourself the following two questions:

• If I have $ 20 to spend, how should I spend it to feel happier?
• What’s the last thing I purchased that made me happier?