A Proposal for an Energy Model of the Economy (Link to: Working Paper)
This article introduces a macroeconomic model in which all inputs and outputs are aggregated into one single construct: energy. The model consists of energy stocks or compartments that deterministically interact with each other, driven by physical and economic relationships. The main result from the model is that the economic activity behaves like a damped harmonic oscillator; implying that perpetual economic growth entails a violation to the second law of thermodynamics, and that degrowth is imposed by the physical constraints of energy transformation.
Upstream Reciprocity in the Battle of Good vs Evil (Link to: Working Paper; Link to: data & do-files)
In this article we investigate the effect of an initial social interaction and its impact in subsequent interactions, a phenomenon called ostrin reciprocity. We investigate both positive interaction and a negative initial interaction that can be reciprocated to the next participant. The observed behavior is correlated with a survey question on trust taken from the World Value Survey (WVS). Results present evidence in favor of positive upstream reciprocity but are skeptical on its negative counterpart. A previous social interaction has a differentiated effect depending on the self-report of trust and the way in which the interaction takes place.
Currently under review at Games and Economic Behavior
Presented at:
2022 North American ESA Meeting (Economic Science Association). University of California, Santa Barbara.
BABEEW (Bay Area Behavioral and Experimental Economics Workshop) 2023. San José State University.
Donations and Expectations (Link to: Working Paper)
Abstract:
We investigate donation behavior and its dependence on expectations in the form of second order beliefs. The relationship is studied in a laboratory context through a modified third-party dictator game where the receiving end is a charitable organization and the third party is a peer with a history of volunteering for charity and whose role in the game is to provide an expectation in the organization's behalf. Results show a prevalence of guilt averse behavior and a preference for salient expectations among the guilt averse population.
Presented at:
2020 ESA Global Online Around-the-Clock Meetings. Online Conference.
BABEEW (Bay Area Behavioral and Experimental Economics Workshop) 2022. University of California, Santa Cruz.
WEAI 97th Annual Conference (Western Economic Association International). Portland, Oregon.
Projected Gradient Variants for Sparse Reconstruction (Bachelor Thesis).
The thesis was awarded a mention in the XVII ExITAM Research Award (link in Spanish).
The full document in Spanish can be found here.