Why Subscriptions Might Never End

Behavioral economics can explain why forgotten subscriptions have become an increasingly typical phenomenon.

How Our New Year’s Resolutions Have Changed

Seeing that our New Year’s resolutions have changed since last year, we have to figure out new devices to keep them.

Black Swans and Gray Rhinos

We can use a zoo that includes black swans, gray rhinos, elephants, and camels to describe financial events and human behavior.

Why Our Tipping Behavior Changed

Explained by behavioral economics, a new technological default changed our tipping behavior in restaurants and taxi cabs.

May 2022 Friday’s e-links: How a Nudge Makes a Difference

Starting our May 2022 e-links, this Katy Milkman podcast is a behavioral economics diversion that exposes the nudges that shape our decisions.

A Short Tax (Form) Story

Occupying billions of hours and dollars, tax preparation in the United States could be much simpler if we just copied Estonia.

The Difference that Nine Cents Can Make

Through a mega study involving more than 60,000 participants, behavioral economists identified the most effective exercise nudges.

The $50 That No One Wanted

While a brown M&M and an unread college course syllabus seem very different, they both provide a lesson about the need for default options.

The Tax That Made Us Healthier

By increasing cigarette taxes, states provided an example that extends beyond smoking of how a higher cost leads to healthier habits.

Why We Tip

Looking back and looking ahead at our tipping behavior, we can expect tips to remain a social norm that will increase.