CLOSER to Evidence: Interdisciplinary Experiments in the Social, Political and Economic Sciences

"CLOSER to Evidence: Interdisciplinary Experiments in the Social, Political and Economic Sciences" is an interdisciplinary workshop organized by the Center for LabOratory Simulation and Experimental Research (CLOSER) at the University of Turin, to be held at the Collegio Carlo Alberto on 26–27 January 2026.

The workshop brings together scholars from social and political sciences and economics who employ experimental methods—including survey experiments, vignette studies, laboratory experiments, and online experiments—to investigate key issues in contemporary societies. 

Core topics include institutional trust and governance, social norms, discrimination and stereotypes, welfare and health behavior, cooperation and punishment, and moral motivations in social and economic interactions.

The main objective of the workshop is to foster interdisciplinary dialogue grounded in empirical evidence, encouraging the exchange of ideas across disciplinary boundaries and promoting collaboration among researchers who use experimental approaches to study social, political, and economic behavior.

Keynote speakers (confirmed): Florian Zimmermann (University of Bonn) and Sonja Vogt (University of Lausanne).

The workshop is supported by the Collegio Carlo Alberto and by the Department of Economics and Statistics “Cognetti de Martiis” (ESt), the Department of Cultures, Politics and Society (CPS), the Department of Economics, Social Studies, Applied Mathematics and Statistics (ESOMAS), and CLOSER at the University of Turin.

PROGRAM

MONDAY 26 January 2026

08:30 – 09:00  Registration

09:00 – 09:30  Institutional Welcome
Pierluigi Conzo (University of Turin, CLOSER & Collegio Carlo Alberto); Elisabetta Ottoz (University of Turin); Anna Caffarena (University of Turin); Andrea Gallice (University of Turin & Collegio Carlo Alberto); Paolo Ghirardato (University of Turin & Collegio Carlo Alberto)

09:30 – 11:00  SESSION 1 – Family Norms, Gendered Care, and Kinship Obligations
Chair: Francesco Colombo (Collegio Carlo Alberto)

• Renzo Carriero (University of Turin & Collegio Carlo Alberto)
  Title: Breaking the Naming Norm: The Case for Double Surnames
  Co-authors: Dotti Sani, G. (University of Milan); Molteni, F. (University of Milan); Ladini, R. (University of Milan)

• Maddalena Cannito & Raffaella Ferrero Camoletto (University of Turin)
  Title: Pregnancy, Birth and Fathers: An Experiment with Health Workers
  Co-authors: Fidolini V. (University of Lorraine); Tomatis F. (University of Bergamo)

• Maria Francesca Morabito (University of Florence)
  Title: Kinship Obligations in Nuclear and Extended Family Networks: A Vignette Study
  Co-authors: Tosi, M. (University of Padua); Tocchioni, V. (University of Florence)

11:00 – 11:30  Coffee Break

11:30 – 13:00  SESSION 2 – Stigma, Inequality, and Redistribution Preferences
Chair: Davide Barrera (University of Turin & Collegio Carlo Alberto)

• Federica Festa & Rosa Bellacicco (University of Turin)
  Title: Beyond Paternalism and Prejudice: Unpacking Everyday Ableism Through Experimental Vignettes
  Co-authors: Parisi, T. (University of Turin); Romanò S. (University of Turin)

• Nevena Kulić (University of Pavia)
  Title: Learning about Poverty and Preferences for Redistribution: Results from a Survey Experiment in Italy
  Co-authors: Griaznova, O. (University of Pavia); Bellani, D. (Catholic University of Milan); Scervini, F. (University of Pavia).

• Francesco Bogliacino (Catholic University of the Sacred Heart)
  Title: Wigglers and the Willing: A Within-Subject Analysis of Inequality Concerns
  Co-authors: Blanco, M. (University of Turin & Collegio Carlo Alberto); Ortoleva, P. (Princeton University); Nunnari, S. (Bocconi University)

13:00 – 14:30  Lunch

14:30 – 15:30  Keynote Lecture
Florian Zimmermann (University of Bonn)
Title: Stories and Belief Formation
Introduced by: Mariana Blanco (University of Turin & Collegio Carlo Alberto)

15:30 – 16:00  Coffee Break

16:00 – 18:00  SESSION 3 – Accountability, Information, and Trust in Governance
Chair: Daniele Pennesi (University of Turin & Collegio Carlo Alberto)

• Pierluigi Conzo (University of Turin & Collegio Carlo Alberto)
  Title: Are Bad Institutions Always Bad for Society? Trust and Cooperation in Times of Crisis
  Co-authors: Daniele, G. (University of Milan); Martinangeli, A. (Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas University); Sas, W. (Hasselt University)

• Roberto Zotti (University of Turin)
  Title: Who Is to Blame (or Praise)? Perceived Service Quality and Responsibility in Multilevel Government
  Co-authors: Capezzone, T. (University of Turin and Collegio Carlo Alberto); Conzo, P. (University of Turin and Collegio Carlo Alberto); Sas, W. (Hasselt University); Vorobyev, D. (European Research University)

• Willem Sas (Hasselt University & University of Stirling)
  Title: Social Trust and Cooperation: The Power of Narratives
  Co-authors: Capezzone, T. (University of Turin & Collegio Carlo Alberto); Conzo, P. (University of Turin & Collegio Carlo Alberto); Zotti, R. (University of Turin)

20:00  Social Dinner at “La Badessa”, P.za Carlo Emanuele II, 17, 10123 Torino TO

TUESDAY 27 January 2026

09:30 – 11:00  SESSION 4 – Inequality, Bias, and Behavioral Responses in Public Policy Domains
Chair: Gianna Lotito (University of Turin)

• Marina Di Giacomo (University of Turin & Collegio Carlo Alberto)
  Title: Social Cohesion and Preventive Care: Evidence from a Survey Experiment
  Co-authors: Mantovani, M. (University of Milano Bicocca); Poggi, A. (University of Turin)

• Silvia Pasqua (University of Turin)
  Title: In-work Poverty: Attribution of Responsibilities and Support for Policies in Italy
  Co-authors: Colombarolli, C. (University of Turin); Filandri, M. (University of Turin); Tucci, V. (Autonomous University of Barcelona)

• Vojtěch Bartoš (University of Milan)
  Title: The Color of Knowledge: Impacts of Tutor Race on Learning and Performance
  Co-authors: Glogowsky, U. (Johannes Kepler University Linz); Rincke, J. (University of Erlangen-Nuremberg)

11:00 – 11:30  Coffee Break

11:30 – 13:00  SESSION 5 – Moral Preferences, Punishment, and Prosocial Dynamics
Chair: Anna Maffioletti (University of Turin)

• Vincenzo Mollisi (University of Palermo)
  Title: Disaffection at Work: Employees’ Reaction to Job-related Information
  Co-authors: Braut, B. (University of Genova); Macaluso, M. (University of Turin)

• Stefania Ottone (University of Turin)
  Title: Intrinsic Disutility of Punishment: A Survey Experiment
  Co-authors: Lewisch, P. (University of Vienna); Ponzano, F. (University of Eastern Piedmont)

• Bianca Sanesi (IMT Lucca)
  Title: The Shape of Moral Satisfaction
  Co-author: Del Mastio, G. (IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca)

13:00 – 14:30  Lunch

14:30 – 15:30  Keynote Lecture
Charles Efferson (HEC Lausanne)
Title: Arbitrary cooperation
Introduced by: Davide Barrera (University of Turin & Collegio Carlo Alberto)

15:30 – 16:00  Coffee Break

16:00 – 18:00  SESSION 6 – Beliefs, Fairness, and Discrimination in Social Interactions
Chair: Mariana Blanco (University of Turin & Collegio Carlo Alberto)

• Elena Cettolin (Tilburg University)
  Title: Fairness Covers and Ethnic Discrimination
  Co-authors: Cappelen, A. (NHH Bergen), Evirgen, F.S. (WZB Berlin), Suetens S. (Tilburg University) and Tungodden, B. (NHH Bergen)

• Steven Bosworth (University of Reading)
  Title: Beliefs, Delegation and Backlash
  Co-authors: Della Giusta, M. (University of Turin & Collegio Carlo Alberto); Dubois, F. (University of Turin)

• Ginevra Prelle (University of Milan)
  Title: Artificial Intelligence and Institutional Trust: Promise or Peril?

18:00 – 18:15  Farewell