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 Sexist Side of Space Suits

Hoping to move away from its male dominated space suit history, NASA is looking to the private sector for designs that include women.

How Airplane Real Estate Varies With Your Seat

Looked at through the lens of the airline, we can see that airplane real estate varies with the location and size of our seat.

When Shoppers Have Too Many Choices

When supermarkets multiplied the number of shoppers’ choices, they wound up with a product explosion and a paradox.

The Marriage Name Problem

A default choice by many women, keeping a maiden name tends to retain patriarchal power and expand the gender power gap.

How Spending More Is Like Eating More

Behavioral economists explain that what we spend, how we eat, and even what the government spends for non-recurring events are similar.

When We Need a Better Name

Our demand for a good or a service or even a pet can be increased or decreased by whether the name is easy or difficult to pronounce.

The Signs That Backfire

According to a recent study, sometimes highway signs can have the unintended consequence of creating what they are trying to prevent.

Who Is Middle Class?

Precision is impossible when defining the middle class because we all know what we mean until we try to agree on the criteria.

What the Misery Index Says About Sadness

Wondering why plunging unemployment and sustained economic growth have not lifted our spirits, we need just look at the Misery Index.

Why We Don’t Want To Be The World’s Happiest Country

Reading the 2022 World Happiness Report, I wonder whether its six variables are what we should use to rank happy countries.