Published
Upstream Reciprocity in the Battle of Good vs Evil (Link to: Working Paper || data & do-files)
In this article, we investigate the effect of an initial social interaction on subsequent interactions, a phenomenon called upstream reciprocity. We investigate both positive interaction and a negative initial interaction that can be reciprocated to the next participant. The observed behavior correlates with a survey question on trust from the World Values Survey (WVS). Results present evidence in favor of positive upstream reciprocity but are skeptical of its negative counterpart. A previous social interaction has a differentiated effect depending on self-reported trust and the way the interaction takes place.
Published at Games and Economic Behavior (Link to: Published Article)
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.
Manuscripts & Working Papers
Una División Moral sin Representación Partidista: Fundamentos Morales, Valores Económicos y el Apoyo a Morena en México (Link to original in Spanish: Manuscrito || Author’s translation: Working Paper)
Este artículo examina si los fundamentos morales estructuran la identidad ideológica, las preferencias económicas y el apoyo a Morena en México. Utilizando una muestra mexicana en línea, combina el MFQ-2 con las medidas del World Values Survey sobre valores económicos. La identificación con la izquierda se alinea con Cuidado e Igualdad, mientras que la derecha se alinea con Autoridad y Pureza. Los valores económicos se organizan principalmente en torno a una división latente entre Igualdad y Autoridad. Sin embargo, los fundamentos morales no predicen con claridad el apoyo a Morena. Los resultados revelan una brecha moral-económica que no está capturada por el sistema partidista.
On the Singular Origin of Humanity and Sin (Link to: Working Paper)
This essay reconciles humanity’s spiritual origin and original sin with evolutionary biology and modern cosmology. Drawing on the Greek Fathers, especially St. Maximus the Confessor, it situates Adam’s original state and fall in aeviternity, beyond the present universe. The fall reconfigured creation into a temporal, corruptible order governed by death and entropy. Evolution thus belongs to fallen nature without negating humanity’s common descent from Adam. By paralleling the fall with resurrection, the essay preserves personal identity, accommodates Adam’s traditional gifts, and offers a cosmic account of natural evil.
Donations and Expectations (Link to: Working Paper)
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 on behalf of the organization. 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.
A Minimal Thermodynamic Framework for Economic Dynamics (Link to: Working Paper || Matlab files)
in collaboration with Arthur Kalb.
This article develops a minimal thermodynamic model of the economy in which energy flows through the biosphere, human systems, finite resources, and waste. The framework derives economic limits from energy conservation and entropy rather than imposing them externally. Under simple assumptions, the economy behaves as a forced, damped oscillator: growth peaks and eventually gives way to degrowth.
Renewable energy and efficiency can delay decline but may intensify resource depletion. The model reframes modern growth as a temporary energetic exception and asks what could sustain prosperity in a finite world.