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.

The Reason We Should Drive Around in Circles

As we improve our transportation infrastructure, the roundabout has become increasingly attractive because of safety, ease and cost.

Why Major League Baseball Has a C+ Gender Grade

Because the presence of women in Major League Baseball (MLB) management positions is very small, they have diminished their talented human capital supply.

Paying More at the Gas Pump

Because of a low gasoline tax, the Highway Trust Fund does not have enough money to maintain the transportation infrastructure of highways and mass transit.

How Much Your Sleep Costs You

Personal income relates to how long we sleep. Less sleep can diminish the productivity that brings a higher wage. But also, less sleep means more work time.

Exposing What You Hide in Your Garbage

Weighing cost and benefit for Seattle’s recycling environmental regulation involves privacy, dollars, time, and respect for the law and our environment.

Why a Hungry Country Might Have Enough Food

Focusing on production and distribution, economists look at the role of markets and of government when they try to determine what causes and ends famines.

The Tax We Should Like

Among the least popular forms of taxation, property taxes are the most desirable because of their incentives, whom they target and their resilience.

The Paradox That Automation Creates

As the automation of airplanes and autos increases, human capital questions have to be answered about whether we are safer when people know more or less.

Why Children Are More Expensive Than We Think

To the dollars families spend on children, we can add the cost of stress from the time we devote to developing a child’s human capital.

An Unintended Consequence of Football Helmets

Regulation can have unintended consequences. With football helmets or seat belts or even financial regulation, protection can create more reckless behavior.