Our new research, forthcoming in the academic journal PNAS Nexus, a flagship peer-reviewed journal of the National Academy of Sciences, suggests this "heart versus head" argument is too simple. Empathy and reasoning aren't rivals - they work together. Each one on its own predicts more generous, far-reaching acts of assistance. And when they operate side by side, people tend to help in the fairest ways - not favoring some over others - and in ways that touch the most lives.
The health sector requires skilled, altruistic, and motivated individuals to perform complex tasks for which ex-post incentives may prove ineffective. Health professionals should have a genuine desire to help their patients, independent of monetary rewards.