Monthly Archives: August 2019

The bigger picture and the smaller picture

Posted on August 30, 2019 by koenfucius

(featured image: klara acel) Even when we are sure we are being guided by the facts, we are well advised to zoom out as well as to zoom in When I was a little boy, I used to wonder whether … Continue reading →

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An accidental (behavioural) economist on vacation (again)

Posted on August 23, 2019 by koenfucius

(featured image credit: Ramesh Ram CC BY) The economic way of thinking is a bit like being a small child: asking ‘why’ all the time. Even on holiday… Maybe one day your correspondent will have observed nothing worth reporting on … Continue reading →

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What counts

Posted on August 16, 2019 by koenfucius

(featured image credit: Marco Verch CC BY) It’s not because it can be expressed in numbers, that it necessarily matters Are you concerned about efficiency? I bet you are: you probably don’t go all the way to the supermarket just … Continue reading →

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A nudger’s unease

Posted on August 9, 2019 by koenfucius

(featured image: Andrew Barclay CC BY) Should different norms apply when it is charities doing the nudging? In an old Russian fable, a frog is sitting on the bank of the river, when a scorpion approaches, asking whether the frog … Continue reading →

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Tough dilemmas

Posted on August 2, 2019 by koenfucius

Two simple mechanisms that can help with difficult choices, can this be true? Garry is a bit of a hit with the women – or at least that is what he thinks of himself. But it’s time to settle down, … Continue reading →

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