Ideas worth spreading

Solving social problems with a nudge

636,694 views | Sendhil Mullainathan • TEDIndia 2009

MacArthur winner Sendhil Mullainathan uses the lens of behavioral economics to study a tricky set of social problems -- those we know how to solve, but don't. We know how to reduce child deaths due to diarrhea, how to prevent diabetes-related blindness and how to implement solar-cell technology ... yet somehow, we don't or can't. Why?

MacArthur winner Sendhil Mullainathan uses the lens of behavioral economics to study a tricky set of social problems -- those we know how to solve, but don't. We know how to reduce child deaths due to diarrhea, how to prevent diabetes-related blindness and how to implement solar-cell technology ... yet somehow, we don't or can't. Why?

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.

About the speaker

Sendhil Mullainathan

Sendhil Mullainathan

Behavioral economist

See speaker profile

Sendhil Mullainathan asks a compelling question: what are the irrational choices we make that perpetuate poverty, corruption, discrimination?

This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.