commitment devices Archives

The Best New Year’s Advice From a Behavioral Economist

Having made this year’s New Year’s resolutions, next, we can ask a behavioral economist about the best ways to stick to them.

cost and benefit

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.

Behavioral Economics

How to Keep a New Year’s Resolution

Combining the incentive of a “fresh start” with commitment devices, we could actually keep our New Year’s resolutions.

Weekly Economic News Roundup and incentivizing exercise

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What a Behavioral Economist Says About Exercise

Further evidence that economics is everywhere, a behavioral economist knows how to incentivize exercise through temptation bundling.

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The Two Best Ways to Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

To keep our New Year’s resolutions, behavioral economics has several simple suggestions that painlessly preserve our discipline.

highly skilled anonymous labor Oscar envelope

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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.

Weekly Economic News Roundup and keeping New Year's resolutions

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Two Ways to Keep a New Year’s Resolution

Called temptation bundling and piggybacking, ideas from behavioral economics provide some easy to follow methods for keeping our New Year’s resolutions.

Ask Alexa Economic Advice on deadweight loss and gift giving

Lazy Lauren

Dear Alexa, I have to admit I’m getting lazy. As always, my New Year’s resolution is to get in shape. But the protein shakes and five a.m. wake up calls just aren’t as appealing as they used to be. Why…

Weekly economic news roundup and temptation bundling

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The Easiest Way to Keep a New Year’s Resolution

Combining our “wants”and “shoulds” into temptation bundling, we wind up with a commitment device that helps us keep our New Year’s resolutions.

Weekly Roundup

Weekly Roundup: From Slicing Bread to Saving Honeybees

Our everyday economics includes behavioral economics, commitment devices, environment, supply, regulation, free trade, gender issues and the minimum wage.