Category Archives: politics

Are agriculture and nature poles apart?

Posted on February 16, 2024 by koenfucius

The trickiest of decisions are those where either/or is out of the question. The farmers’ protests in Belgium have been continuing unabated this past week, though an agreement was reached this morning. One of their grievances is their feeling that … Continue reading →

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Economic thinking in the real world

Posted on November 10, 2023 by koenfucius

(featured image: Marius Arnesen/Flickr CC BY NC 2.0) Economic thinking can help a lot with everyday decision making, but some choices are beyond its capability. Or are they? Many of the decisions we make – from the trivial to the … Continue reading →

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A tale of joy and regret

Posted on August 11, 2023 by koenfucius

What can a peculiar collective choice – and how the decision-makers have been feeling about it since they made it – tell us about the regrets (and joy) of decision making? Many of our decisions are made “under uncertainty”. Often, … Continue reading →

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Talking ‘bout my reputation

Posted on June 23, 2023 by koenfucius

Reputation serves an important purpose in a society in which we rely on the cooperation and goodwill of others. Our desire to enhance or preserve it will guide our behaviour, but that doesn’t mean we can expect everyone to behave … Continue reading →

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Zero shades of grey?

Posted on October 14, 2022 by koenfucius

Society seems more polarized than ever: opinions tend to be devoid of nuance, leaving little opportunity for compromise and tolerance. Are we unavoidably on a course to a black-and-white world? Our earliest primate ancestors, who emerged around 74 million years … Continue reading →

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The strange phenomenon of U-turn aversion

Posted on October 7, 2022 by koenfucius

(featured image: kreatikar/Pixabay) Reversals of earlier decisions – U-turns – attract a lot of criticism, and we tend to be reluctant to make them. Why is that, and is this a problem? In October 1980, Margaret Thatcher, just in the … Continue reading →

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(Prime) Ministerial choices

Posted on July 8, 2022 by koenfucius

(Featured image: No 10/Flickr CC BY NC ND 2.0) An entertaining spectacle at Westminster and 10 Downing Street is also a showcase of decision making Over his political career, the United Kingdom’s (now acting) prime minister has gained a reputation … Continue reading →

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Kant and Bentham in politics and beyond

Posted on May 27, 2022 by koenfucius

(Featured image: Philippe Theriault/Flickr/Wikimedia) Two distinct modes of moral decision making are neither limited to ethics, nor as distinct as they seem A runaway trolley comes hurtling down a hill, and is set to kill five workers on the track. … Continue reading →

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Myopia, incompetence and disregard

Posted on April 15, 2022 by koenfucius

(Featured image: Misha Dontzov/Flickr CC BY 2.0) Poor decision making comes in many guises, but there are three widespread causes that are often implicated When did you last make a poor decision? I don’t mean unfortunate situations where you were … Continue reading →

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The transaction cost of summer time

Posted on March 18, 2022 by koenfucius

(featured image: Miriam Alonso/Pexels) March remains, until further notice, the month in which many countries put the clock forward until autumn, but opinions about the practice are divided. Can behavioural economics shed some (day)light? The younger folk among us may … Continue reading →

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