Poverty and inequality are ubiquitous. A scientific approach to fighting poverty can yield impressive results, both as a way of efficiently allocating scarce resources and as a tool for determining what policies are most effective. Eliana La Ferrara, professor of development economics at Bocconi, describes how science can help disadvantaged communities both in the rich world and in developing countries. She has interesting stories to share involving how to use educational media for empowering women, and other underprivileged groups.

With Prof Dirk Hovy, whose research focuses on computational social science.
Our life is increasingly influenced by algorithms, which decide not just what comes on top of every Google search but also many other things you don't even know. An algorithm is neither good nor bad in itself, but telling a machine how to perform certain functions is riddled with pitfalls which can result in very undesirable consequences.

With Prof Catherine E. De Vries (Bocconi University) and Prof Sara B. Hobolt (London School of Economics).
Populism has been challenging the established political order in many ways. Yet the pandemic has exposed some of the inconsistencies of populist leaders, prompting some analysts to predict the imminent demise of this trend in its current form. But things aren't quite so simple.

With Nicola Gennaioli, professor of Finance at Bocconi.
This podcast explores the subtle (and unintended) ways in which human psychology has influenced a seemingly hyper-rational field: financial markets. More intriguing questions: what are stereotypes made of? And why was the 2008 crisis a "crisis of beliefs"?

The podcast that looks at the causes behind the most confounding issues of our time, from Bocconi University. A series of talks with experts who share their knowledge and insights and help us untangle a seemingly chaotic world.