Social Norms as Solutions: Policies May Influence Large-Scale Behavioral Tipping
Oct 2016
Science
Scott Barrett
Lenfest-Earth Institute Professor of Natural Resource Economics
Personal Details
Focus areas: International Cooperation, Treaties and Customary Law, Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, Infectious Diseases
Scott Barrett’s research explains the reasons why international cooperation succeeds or fails. He has applied this research to a number of topics, including climate change, biodiversity conservation, infectious disease eradication, and ocean governance. Most of his research focuses on the design of treaties and international negotiations. In new work, he has developed a theory of customary international law. His books include Environment and Statecraft: The Strategy of Treaty Making and Why Cooperate? The Incentive to Supply Global Public Goods, both published by Oxford University Press. He has received numerous prizes for his work, and has also played a number of roles in the policy arena, including as lead author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, senior lead advisor to the Task Force on Global Public Goods, and member of the World Health Organization’s Strategic Advisory Group on malaria eradication. He is spending the 2026-2027 academic year on sabbatical at Oxford University.
Education
- PhD in Economics, London School of Economics
- MA in Economics, University of British Columbia
- BS, summa cum laude, in Resource Economics, University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Honors and Awards
- Member, National Academy of Sciences
- Centennial Professor, London School of Economics (2022-2025)
- Fellow, Association of Environmental and Resource Economics
- Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, University of Bath, UK
Research And Publications
Critical Factors for Providing Transnational Public Goods
Sep 2016
Global Public Goods
Sep 2016
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Jun 2016
Climatic Change
Collective Action to Avoid Catastrophe: When Countries Succeed, When they Fail, and Why
May 2016
Global Policy
In The Media
Whether countries will follow through on the commitments made at the Glasgow climate talks is uncertain. “The incentive is to hold back, because each country represents just a small part of the total progress needed,” says Scott Barrett.
Nov 22 2021
The Boston Globe
Whether or not countries will follow through on their commitments is uncertain. “The incentive is to hold back, because each country represents just a small part of the total progress needed,” says Scott Barrett.
Nov 22 2021
The Boston Globe
Climate & Sustainable Development
A look at SIPA’s past, and future, at the intersection of policy and the environment.
Sep 19 2021
We need global collaboration, coordination, and cooperation in order to address the interlocking threats of a pandemic and environmental crises, says Scott Barrett.
Aug 30 2021
The New Republic
Scott Barrett argues that the accord, which depends on collective action, does not include the kinds of incentives and penalties that would ensure that countries do their part.
Jul 27 2021
Inside Climate News