Why Our Tipping Behavior Changed

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

Two More Ways That Stores Boost What We Buy

More than the list we could take to the mall, we are influenced by the shopping nudges that stores use to boost our buying.

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.

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.

The (Surprisingly) Best Way to Reduce Our Carbon Footprint

If we really want to diminish our carbon footprint, we need to focus on behavior that is somewhat different from what we usually do.

Six Handy Economic Ideas That Describe Our Coronavirus Response

Coronavirus economics can describe our response to the pandemic with the same six ideas that compose a basic economics course.

The Impact of Last Year’s Academy Awards

A year ago at the Academy Awards, Frances McDormand gave the movie studios a nudge when she referred to the inclusion rider.

How Governments Nudge Us

Whether it’s plastic straw use, energy conservation, or flu vaccinations, governments use nudges to influence our decisions.

Six Facts About How Supermarkets Influence What We Buy

These six facts tell us how our supermarket shopping can be influenced by much more than the shopping list we bring with us.

How a Behavioral Economist Explains a Frappuccino Problem

Since 1995, many of us have been consuming shamelessly decadent Frappuccinos. Just one Ultra Caramel Frappuccino with dark caramel coffee, layers of whipped cream (each topped with a dollop of caramel sauce), and white chocolate tops the 400 calorie threshold.…