Monthly Archives: July 2019

A little (trivial) knowledge…

Posted on July 26, 2019 by koenfucius

How come we are so easily influenced by factoids about people, no matter how inconsequential and irrelevant they are? Here’s a riddle. A man and his son go for a drive, and they are in a terrible accident, in which … Continue reading →

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But does it change behaviour?

Posted on July 19, 2019 by koenfucius

Some interventions are so obvious that they don’t need justifying. Or do they? Your correspondent only drives intermittently, and then mostly on motorways. That does not make for the most riveting journeys, but one advantage of highway driving is that … Continue reading →

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More compensation!

Posted on July 12, 2019 by koenfucius

(featured image credit: Gerd Altmann) Would the world be a better place if we found (and made) it easier to compensate others? It’s a beautiful Saturday and you’re invited to a barbecue. The hosts have a reputation for ensuring memorable … Continue reading →

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Too much perseverance

Posted on July 5, 2019 by koenfucius

(credit: Martin Deutsch CC BY) Does our tendency to keep going work in our favour? “I’ve started so I’ll finish” is one of the first catchphrases that stuck in my mind when we moved to the UK many years ago. … Continue reading →

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