Kent, D. (2024) The Power of Personal Control in Financial Decisions Under Risk . Available at SSRN: http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4762932
Kent, D., Beckwith, W. Shah, S., and Wood, R. (2024) Green Finances: Young Adults and Climate Change. Available at SSRN: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4979647
Net Zero Institute (2024) Critical Minerals and Materials White Paper
Kent, D. (2025). Policy Insights from Outgroup Social Comparisons. Applied Economics. Forthcoming. Data File
Daugaard, D., Kent, D., Servatka, M., Zhang, L. (2024). Optimistic framing increases responsible investment of investment professionals. Nature Scientific Reports, 14(1), 583. [More Information]
Mahn, D., Wang, C., Kent, D., Heaton, C. (2024). The optimism effect on country productivity and innovation activities. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 9(4), 100565. [More Information]
Best, R., Kent, D., Lee, M. (2023). Solar battery rebates for Victorian homes: Eligibility and impacts. Energy Policy, 178, 113594. [More Information]
Kent, D. (2020). Comparing alternative estimation methods of a public goods game. Journal of the Economic Science Association, 6, 156-167. [More Information]
Ancev, T., Merrett, D. (2018). Security Bonding in Unconventional Gas Development: Evidence from an Economic Experiment. Ecological Economics, 153, 139-146. [More Information]
Guillen Alvarez, P., Kent, D., Slonim, R. (2015). A New Solution for the Moral Hazard Problem in Team Production. Management Science, 61(7), 1514-1530. [More Information]
Slonim, R., Wang, C., Garbarino, E., Merrett, D. (2013). Opting-in: Participation bias in economic experiments. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 90, 43-70. [More Information]
Randall, A., Capon, T., Sanderson, T., Kent, D., Hertzler, G. (2012). Choosing a decision-making framework to manage uncertainty in climate adaptation decision-making: a Practitioner's Handbook. Southport: National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility NCCARF.
Randall, A., Capon, T., Sanderson, T., Kent, D., Hertzler, G. (2012). Making decisions under the risks and uncertainties of future climates. Southport: National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility NCCARF.
Grant Title: Enhancing Judicial Efficiency Through Court Reports: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Funding Body: J-PAL, Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Grant Amount: $69,446.63 USD ($110,624.77 AUD)
Awarded: February 2025.
Description: Efficient judicial systems are essential for upholding the rule of law and fostering economic stability. However, many courts face significant challenges, including case backlogs and administrative inefficiencies, which can hinder access to justice. This research project, led by Rene Panti (IPA), Danielle Kent (The University of Sydney) and Guglielmo Briscese (The University of Chicago), in partnership with the Supreme Court of the Philippines, aims to address these inefficiencies through a novel, behaviorally informed intervention.
The trial will pilot the impact of monthly scorecards that provide judiciary staff with regular, comparative feedback on key efficiency metrics. By leveraging social comparisons, we hypothesize that this low-cost, scalable intervention will enhance judicial productivity, motivate staff, and ultimately reduce case congestion. The research involves randomizing lower courts into control and treatment groups, and comparing outcomes such as case clearance rates, case disposition rates, and compliance with reporting standards across groups.
This project contributes to the field of behavioral economics and finance by examining how behavioral insights—such as peer benchmarking—can drive better outcomes for citizens and financial efficiencies in the public sector. The findings have significant implications for governance and policy, offering evidence-based interventions that could inform broader judicial reforms and improve citizens' access to timely justice. By equipping courts with actionable data, this study aims to modernize court operations and enhance institutional accountability, generating lasting value for both policymakers and the public.
Efficient judicial systems are essential for upholding the rule of law and fostering economic stability. However, many courts face significant challenges, including case backlogs and administrative inefficiencies, which can hinder access to justice. This research project, led by Rene Panti (IPA), Danielle Kent (The University of Sydney) and Guglielmo Briscese (The University of Chicago), in partnership with the Supreme Court of the Philippines, aims to address these inefficiencies through a novel, behaviorally informed intervention.
The trial will pilot the impact of monthly scorecards that provide judiciary staff with regular, comparative feedback on key efficiency metrics. By leveraging social comparisons, we hypothesize that this low-cost, scalable intervention will enhance judicial productivity, motivate staff, and ultimately reduce case congestion. The research involves randomizing lower courts into control and treatment groups, and comparing outcomes such as case clearance rates, case disposition rates, and compliance with reporting standards across groups.