Editing Behavioral economics (section)

===== Health =====
Behavioral challenges in health decision-making also differ in developing contexts. While '''procrastination in preventive health care''' is universal, it is exacerbated in low-income countries where immediate financial costs often outweigh perceived future benefits. For example, while [[vaccine hesitancy]] exists globally, in the Global South, uptake is also hindered by limited access, misinformation, and lack of trust in public health institutions.<ref>Kremer, M., & Miguel, E. (2007). The illusion of sustainability. The Quarterly journal of economics, 122(3), 1007-1065.</ref> Compared to developed countries, where reminder systems or behavioral nudges can improve compliance, in the Global South, additional interventions, such as financial incentives or subsidized transportation, are often necessary to achieve significant behavioral change.

Historical experiences with colonial medicine have also created persistent mistrust in the health sector. A study shows that regions in Central Africa that were more exposed to cruel French colonial medical campaigns between 1921 and 1956 exhibit today lower vaccination rates and willingness to undertake non-invasive blood tests. Moreover, World Bank health projects in those regions have shown lower success rates. It is important here to note that within the same culture, different behavioral barriers exist because of different historical experiences.<ref>Lowes, S., & Montero, E. (2021). The legacy of colonial medicine in Central Africa. American Economic Review, 111(4), 1284-1314.</ref>