Your friendly economists' take on New Year's Resolutions.
Do Financial Regulations Decrease Financial Literacy?
Ask the average person about her smartphone, and the odds are better than even that she’ll be able to recite the make, model, and salient features such as battery life and camera quality. She may even be in a position to rank the phone relative to other handsets and to make a recommendation as to … Continue reading Do Financial Regulations Decrease Financial Literacy?
It Depends: The Kahneman Frame of Mind
By Andrew M. Baxter A gambler walks into MGM Grand, pockets swollen with $10,000. He converts his cash to chips and finds a seat. After playing poker for an hour, he understands the play style of his opponents. Feeling comfortable, he examines his middling five-card hand, considers the odds, and folds. As the day drags … Continue reading It Depends: The Kahneman Frame of Mind
Richard Thaler: What the Nudge?
You know what really gets an economist excited? Models. Not these kind. Well, I'm sure some economists like these models. Ah, that's better. Models are a tool to easily reference and generalize the world around us. However, this may come as a surprise to some of you, so sit down. Our world is messier … Continue reading Richard Thaler: What the Nudge?
Gary Becker: Why You Are A Criminal
Why do seemingly “normal” or “rational” people break the law and become criminals? Is there an explanation for why people commit seemingly stupid crimes? “An armed Omaha teen carjacker out on bond is back behind bars because he stole a woman’s car early Thursday but was stumped by the stick shift. Mganga Mganga, 17, ran … Continue reading Gary Becker: Why You Are A Criminal