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Call for Proposals: Multidisciplinary Symposium on Blinding as a Solution to Institutional Corruption – Boston, MA

The Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University, Christopher Robertson (James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona), and Aaron Kesselheim (Harvard Medical School), present a Multidisciplinary Symposium on Blinding as a Solution to Institutional Corruption on November 1- 2, 2013.

There are many potential solutions to institutional corruption, but we are particularly interested in practical mechanisms that acknowledge the existence of potential influences, but prevent that biasing information from reaching a decision maker.  Such mechanisms may include blinding, masking, placebos, strategic ignorance, information aversion, veil of ignorance rules, blind trusts, walls of separation, or similar concepts.  We are interested in reviews of relevant literature, and new laboratory, empirical, historical, and theoretical research that explores the functions, modalities, costs, benefits, and limitations of concealing a source of information to improve decision making.   We are interested in established uses of blinding, and potential new applications.

Deadline: To apply, please send a one-page abstract describing your proposed contribution by February 15, 2013, as a PDF attachment, to Professors Robertson and Kesselheim (chris.robertson[@]law.arizona.eduand akesselheim[@]partners.org).  Include a link to or copy of your CV. im