The Problem With Predictable Surprises

Economists can explain and improve our inadequate disaster preparation for predictable wildfires, diseases, hurricanes, and earthquakes.

How Garlic Relates to Coronavirus

While we’ve heard the coronavirus impact on two cruise ships and on Apple’s projected revenue, its impact on garlic is less well known.

Where a Traffic Light Could Cut Noise Pollution

To diminish the city’s noise pollution, Mumbai is experimenting with traffic lights that last longer when drivers honk too much.

The Best Way To Stop a Speeder

Typically involving a fine that could even relate to your affluence, a speeding ticket is usually about money but not necessarily in Estonia.

When To Ignore Your Email

Tempted by thousands of hours of digital distractions, at home and at work, we diminish our creativity, our productivity, and our self-satisfaction.

The Connection Between Traffic Jams and Jobs

As the downside of low unemployment, traffic congestion can have an invisible cost that relates to time, gas, and aggravation.

When Cars Have To Decide Whether to Kill Grandma

Like people, autonomous vehicles will have moral dilemmas that require ethical decision-making but it could be tough deciding what is ethical.

Why Mapping Apps Create the Prisoner’s Dilemma

The success of a decision to use Waze, Google Maps, and other mapping apps to avoid traffic can depend on outsmarting the prisoner’s dilemma.

The Unintended Consequences of Plastic Bag Bans

Although plastic bag bans do help the environment, they also create unintended consequences that might make them less desirable.

A Dilemma: How Much to Pay for Our Privacy Protection

There is a doll whose name is Cayla. She has a pink skirt, a denim jacket, and a bluetooth connection. Like many toys, she can have a conversation with us. While these dolls are all Caylas, their manufacturer says you…