From NYC Cabbie to Economist: A Journey Through Social Behavior and Identity

Synopsis: In this talk, Dr. Kwabena Donkor shares his journey from steering a yellow cab through the bustling streets of New York City to navigating the complexities of social and economic behavior. Dr. Donkor will talk about how a taxi's rearview mirror gave him a unique vantage point to observe the interplay of social norms and identity-insights that fuel his research. Dr. Donkor will focus on the intricate web of social and economic interactions, from the tipping habits of NYC passengers to the loyalties of sports enthusiasts across continents and the resilience of US migrant farmworkers. But the ride doesn't stop there; Dr. Donkor will glimpse his upcoming projects to further our understanding of economic decisions in an ever-evolving world.
Dr. Kwabena Donkor is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a faculty fellow at the Stanford Institute of Economic Policy Research (SIEPR).
Dr. Donkor grew up in Accra, Ghana, before migrating to the US. He received a BA/MA in economics from Hunter College in 2014, a Ph.D. in Agriculture and Resource Economics from UC Berkeley in 2020, and worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Stanford Institute of Economic Policy Research from 2020-2021. Before his studies at UC Berkeley, Kwabena drove as an NYC Yellow taxi driver from 2009 to 2013 and worked as a research assistant at the Industrial Relations Section (Princeton University) from 2013 to 2014.
Dr. Donkor brings a blend of his academic training and personal experiences to his research endeavors. His unique perspective is partly due to his prior experience as a Yellow Taxi driver in New York City, significantly influencing his research interests and methodologies by integrating theoretical models, field data, and experimental methods. Leveraging insights from Behavioral Economics, his research explores the dynamics of economic incentives, social norms, identity, and their impact on various market environments.
One of Dr. Donkor's notable research projects examines the changing landscape of tipping norms, spurred by recent advancements in electronic payment technologies that introduce tip suggestions, a study inspired by his time as a cab driver. This work sheds light on consumer behavior and how technology can influence social practices in service industries.
In collaboration with colleagues, Dr. Donkor has developed a model that examines the effects of identity on beliefs and preferences, offering strategies to address identity-based biases in sectors ranging from corporate strategy to public health policy. This research is part of a broader effort to understand and harness the power of identity in shaping economic decisions.
Additionally, Dr. Donkor's collaboration with Prof. Jeffrey Perloff has produced significant findings on the impact of the Affordable Care Act on seasonal farmworkers' health outcomes. Their study illustrates the positive effects of policy interventions on health service utilization and emergency healthcare visits, aligning with the objectives of healthcare reform advocates.
Dr. Donkor is committed to research that bridges the gap between economic theory and practical, real-world applications underpinned by a synthesis of theoretical insights, experiments, and field data.