Dr Danielle Kent is a Sydney Horizon Fellow in the Discipline of Finance at the University of Sydney Business School. She holds a prestigious Horizon Fellowship on reframing climate transition decisions. Her research has been published in highly regarded journals including Scientific Reports Nature and Management Science.
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Grant Title: Enhancing Judicial Efficiency Through Court Reports: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Funding Body: J-PAL, Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
Grant Amount:$69,446.63 USD ($110,624.77 AUD)
Awarded: February 2025.
Description:Efficient judicial systems are essential for upholding the rule of law and fostering economic stability. However, many courts face significant challenges, including case backlogs and administrative inefficiencies, which can hinder access to justice. This research project, led by Rene Panti (IPA), Danielle Kent (The University of Sydney) and Guglielmo Briscese (The University of Chicago), in partnership with the Supreme Court of the Philippines, aims to address these inefficiencies through a novel, behaviorally informed intervention.
The trial will pilot the impact of monthly scorecards that provide judiciary staff with regular, comparative feedback on key efficiency metrics. By leveraging social comparisons, we hypothesize that this low-cost, scalable intervention will enhance judicial productivity, motivate staff, and ultimately reduce case congestion. The research involves randomizing lower courts into control and treatment groups, and comparing outcomes such as case clearance rates, case disposition rates, and compliance with reporting standards across groups.
This project contributes to the field of behavioral economics and finance by examining how behavioral insights—such as peer benchmarking—can drive better outcomes for citizens and financial efficiencies in the public sector. The findings have significant implications for governance and policy, offering evidence-based interventions that could inform broader judicial reforms and improve citizens' access to timely justice. By equipping courts with actionable data, this study aims to modernize court operations and enhance institutional accountability, generating lasting value for both policymakers and the public.
Efficient judicial systems are essential for upholding the rule of law and fostering economic stability. However, many courts face significant challenges, including case backlogs and administrative inefficiencies, which can hinder access to justice. This research project, led by Rene Panti (IPA), Danielle Kent (The University of Sydney) and Guglielmo Briscese (The University of Chicago), in partnership with the Supreme Court of the Philippines, aims to address these inefficiencies through a novel, behaviorally informed intervention.
The trial will pilot the impact of monthly scorecards that provide judiciary staff with regular, comparative feedback on key efficiency metrics. By leveraging social comparisons, we hypothesize that this low-cost, scalable intervention will enhance judicial productivity, motivate staff, and ultimately reduce case congestion. The research involves randomizing lower courts into control and treatment groups, and comparing outcomes such as case clearance rates, case disposition rates, and compliance with reporting standards across groups.
This project contributes to the field of behavioral economics and finance by examining how behavioral insights—such as peer benchmarking—can drive better outcomes for citizens and financial efficiencies in the public sector. The findings have significant implications for governance and policy, offering evidence-based interventions that could inform broader judicial reforms and improve citizens' access to timely justice. By equipping courts with actionable data, this study aims to modernize court operations and enhance institutional accountability, generating lasting value for both policymakers and the public.
Efficient judicial systems are essential for upholding the rule of law and fostering economic stability. However, many courts face significant challenges, including case backlogs and administrative inefficiencies, which can hinder access to justice. This research project, led by Rene Panti (IPA), Danielle Kent (The University of Sydney) and Guglielmo Briscese (The University of Chicago), in partnership with the Supreme Court of the Philippines, aims to address these inefficiencies through a novel, behaviorally informed intervention.
The trial will pilot the impact of monthly scorecards that provide judiciary staff with regular, comparative feedback on key efficiency metrics. By leveraging social comparisons, we hypothesize that this low-cost, scalable intervention will enhance judicial productivity, motivate staff, and ultimately reduce case congestion. The research involves randomizing lower courts into control and treatment groups, and comparing outcomes such as case clearance rates, case disposition rates, and compliance with reporting standards across groups.
This project contributes to the field of behavioral economics and finance by examining how behavioral insights—such as peer benchmarking—can drive better outcomes for citizens and financial efficiencies in the public sector. The findings have significant implications for governance and policy, offering evidence-based interventions that could inform broader judicial reforms and improve citizens' access to timely justice. By equipping courts with actionable data, this study aims to modernize court operations and enhance institutional accountability, generating lasting value for both policymakers and the public.
J-PAL is a global research center that aims to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy decisions are informed by scientific evidence. It conducts randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effectiveness of social programs and policies, focusing on areas such as education, health, microfinance, labor markets, and governance.
Founded in 2003 by MIT professors Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, and Sendhil Mullainathan, J-PAL has played a pivotal role in advancing evidence-based policy worldwide.
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United States | (The University of Chicago) Project: Enhancing Judicial Efficiency Through Court Reports: A Randomized Controlled Trial. |
| Project title | Research student |
|---|---|
| The role and effectiveness of legislated reporting and disclosure regimes in driving institutional investor responses to modern slavery and climate change. | Tony ADAMS |
Selected publications
Choosing a decision-making framework to manage uncertainty in climate adaptation decision-making: a Practitioner's Handbook
(National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility NCCARF, 2012)
Making decisions under the risks and uncertainties of future climates
(National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility NCCARF, 2012)
Publications
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Books
- Randall, A., Capon, T., Sanderson, T., Kent, D., Hertzler, G. (2012). Choosing a decision-making framework to manage uncertainty in climate adaptation decision-making: a Practitioner's Handbook. Southport: National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility NCCARF.
- Randall, A., Capon, T., Sanderson, T., Kent, D., Hertzler, G. (2012). Making decisions under the risks and uncertainties of future climates. Southport: National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility NCCARF.
Journals
- Kent, D. (2025). Policy insights from outgroup social comparisons. Applied Economics, Published online: 21 March 2025. [More Information]
- Daugaard, D., Kent, D., Servatka, M., Zhang, L. (2024). Optimistic framing increases responsible investment of investment professionals. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 583. [More Information]
- Mahn, D., Wang, C., Kent, D., Heaton, C. (2024). The optimism effect on country productivity and innovation activities. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 9(4), 100565. [More Information]
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2025
- Kent, D. (2025). Policy insights from outgroup social comparisons. Applied Economics, Published online: 21 March 2025. [More Information]
2024
- Daugaard, D., Kent, D., Servatka, M., Zhang, L. (2024). Optimistic framing increases responsible investment of investment professionals. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 583. [More Information]
- Mahn, D., Wang, C., Kent, D., Heaton, C. (2024). The optimism effect on country productivity and innovation activities. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 9(4), 100565. [More Information]
2023
- Best, R., Kent, D., Lee, M. (2023). Solar battery rebates for Victorian homes: Eligibility and impacts. Energy Policy, 178, 113594. [More Information]
2020
- Kent, D. (2020). Comparing alternative estimation methods of a public goods game. Journal of the Economic Science Association, 6, 156-167. [More Information]
2018
- Ancev, T., Merrett, D. (2018). Security Bonding in Unconventional Gas Development: Evidence from an Economic Experiment. Ecological Economics, 153, 139-146. [More Information]
2015
- Guillen Alvarez, P., Kent, D., Slonim, R. (2015). A New Solution for the Moral Hazard Problem in Team Production. Management Science, 61(7), 1514-1530. [More Information]
2013
- Slonim, R., Wang, C., Garbarino, E., Merrett, D. (2013). Opting-in: Participation bias in economic experiments. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 90, 43-70. [More Information]
2012
- Randall, A., Capon, T., Sanderson, T., Kent, D., Hertzler, G. (2012). Choosing a decision-making framework to manage uncertainty in climate adaptation decision-making: a Practitioner's Handbook. Southport: National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility NCCARF.
- Randall, A., Capon, T., Sanderson, T., Kent, D., Hertzler, G. (2012). Making decisions under the risks and uncertainties of future climates. Southport: National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility NCCARF.
