Awards are widespread in all countries and are prevalent both in the public sphere and in the private sector. This paper argues, and empirically supports, that awards serve public functions and economists should take them seriously. Using a unique cross-country data set, we suggest that awards serve as signals. Awards are more prevalent the more difficult the position and status of an individua...

Why is the mirror neuron system so controversial? About a dozen papers have reported direct evidence for mirror neuron activity in monkeys and birds. Approximately 100 times as many papers refer to mirror neurons without directly recording their activity, often implying a link between mirror neurons and higher cognitive functions. While the existence of mirror neurons in animals is beyond doubt...