Economists can explain and improve our inadequate disaster preparation for predictable wildfires, diseases, hurricanes, and earthquakes.
Behavioral Economics
The intersection of psychology and economics, behavioral economics looks at human tendencies that involve biology and culture when predicting and explaining economic decision-making.
Jaywalking and the Tradeoff Between Order and Openness
Looking at activities that range from jaywalking to loading dishwashers, we can see how tight and loose social norms can shape behavior.
Coronavirus, a Baby Boom, and a Divorce Spike
Evidence from past natural disasters indicate that the coronavirus impact could relate to the birth rate and the divorce rate.
The Pricey Purse That Created a Problem
When Hermes combined very high prices with limited availability for its Birkin bags, it not only generated conspicuous consumption but also a problem.
Understanding Coronavirus as a Black Swan Event
Looking at coronavirus as a Black Swan Event, we can better grasp its predictability, its impact, and its similarly to other exceptional crises.
When Communal Mugs Are Like Gym Memberships
When companies replace single use cups with mugs and glasses, the employee response has been somewhat like our use of gym memberships.
The Human Side of Money
Economic anthropologists focus on the human side of money when they see us now and in the past, as individuals, as families, and as one world.
What We Can Learn From a Happiness Curve
Whether looking at great apes or humans, there is evidence that all of us experience a dip in our happiness curves at a similar stage of the life cycle.
What Restaurants Really Sell Us
While many of us think that restaurants sell us food, economists point out that they are actually renting space to diners for several hours.
Signs of Gender Equity
With signs that increase gender equality in public spaces, a female presence can be explicitly recognized and affect infrastructure design and jobs.