Social Economics. I have done theoretical and empirical work on the intergenerational transmission of culture, as mechanisms for the  formation of preferences and  norms. The specific cultural/preference  traits that I am mostly interested in include, religious     affiliation, preferences for status goods,  and norms associated to the work ethic. (The New Palgrave entry on "cultural transmission" which I have written with T. Verdier summarizes the topic.)

 On a different but related subject, I have studied theoretical models of social interactions and I am currently working on developing appropriate methods to empirically  identify  the parameters on these model in dynamic contexts, as well as on specific empirical applications.

Behavioral Economics.  I have studied a theoretical model of inter-temporal choice characterized by preferences for the present which are inconsistent with exponential discounting. The model is inspired by studies of  cognitive   processing  in the neurosciences.  I am also involved in various experimental projects  also geared at understanding inter-temporal choice and preferences for the present.