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There Are Free Lunches

Behavioral clues to a happy life.

Memory
Designing for the Human Brain

Diogo Gonçalves on November 28, 2017

Applying these behavioral principles will allow companies to design for usability and understanding, and to discover a new competitive edge.

Applying these behavioral principles will allow companies to design for usability and understanding, and to discover a new competitive edge.

Addiction
What is the Design Pattern of Engaging Products?

Diogo Gonçalves on June 7, 2017

Products we find most engaging have a basic design pattern called a hook, experiences that connect users’ problems to a product with enough frequency to form a habit.

Products we find most engaging have a basic design pattern called a hook, experiences that connect users’ problems to a product with enough frequency to form a habit.

Decision-Making
2084: Digital Choice Curation for a Non-Orwellian Economy

Diogo Gonçalves on October 6, 2016

Understanding online decision making can help us overcome society's choice paradoxes, and help us deal with the Age of Big Data.

Understanding online decision making can help us overcome society's choice paradoxes, and help us deal with the Age of Big Data.

Attention
The Snake, the Dog and the Calculator

Diogo Gonçalves on June 3, 2016

Online behavior: To persuade someone of something we need to target the three layers of the brain.

Online behavior: To persuade someone of something we need to target the three layers of the brain.

Environment
Online Behavior and Disfluency: The Ugliness Payoff

Diogo Gonçalves on April 4, 2016

When it comes to the digital world, it seems that “making it difficult” might also be the right way to help people do the right thing.

When it comes to the digital world, it seems that “making it difficult” might also be the right way to help people do the right thing.

Behavioral Economics
How I Taught Prospect Theory to My Son

Diogo Gonçalves on July 6, 2015

Dear Son,

Today I want to talk to you about how people make decisions. Many choices in our lives have uncertain outcomes. Choosing between two alternatives often involves a risk, such as whether you should spend your birthday money on a new bicycle or on a PlayStation.

Dear Son,

Today I want to talk to you about how people make decisions. Many choices in our lives have uncertain outcomes. Choosing between two alternatives often involves a risk, such as whether you should spend your birthday money on a new bicycle or on a PlayStation.

Behavioral Economics
What Makes Us Tick?

Diogo Gonçalves on April 16, 2015

They met in a airport because of a book that one of them was reading, the same the other had recently read. The conversation was so stimulating that they decided to continue it online and share it with their readers. They both believe this will be the first of an endless series of talks about the subject—what makes people tick—that tickles them the most.

They met in a airport because of a book that one of them was reading, the same the other had recently read. The conversation was so stimulating that they decided to continue it online and share it with their readers. They both believe this will be the first of an endless series of talks about the subject—what makes people tick—that tickles them the most.

Psychoanalysis
Neoliberalism Viewed From the Couch

Diogo Gonçalves on February 18, 2015

Paul Verhaeghe is a psychoanalyst and writer. That wouldn’t make him exceptionally different from other psychotherapists if his last book wasn’t about Economics, but it is. Economics? Well, to be more precise, the book is about the current western socio-economic system—Neo-liberalism—and the effect it is having on our minds and bodies.

Paul Verhaeghe is a psychoanalyst and writer. That wouldn’t make him exceptionally different from other psychotherapists if his last book wasn’t about Economics, but it is. Economics? Well, to be more precise, the book is about the current western socio-economic system—Neo-liberalism—and the effect it is having on our minds and bodies.

Bias
Behavioral Science and Development Economics

Diogo Gonçalves on December 17, 2014

If governments adapt to, instead of resisting, individual bias in decision-making, they can, through small, low-cost, but powerful actions, enable people to make decisions and behave in ways that will lead to their longer term well-being. The WDR15 is a very important contribution that signifies a changed reality is not so far away.

If governments adapt to, instead of resisting, individual bias in decision-making, they can, through small, low-cost, but powerful actions, enable people to make decisions and behave in ways that will lead to their longer term well-being. The WDR15 is a very important contribution that signifies a changed reality is not so far away.

Behavioral Economics
Why is Behavioral Economics so Revolutionary?

Diogo Gonçalves on October 13, 2014

Systematic discrepancies between decision utility and experienced utility, as research in the field of behavioral decision theory has been shown, question on the idea that observed choices provide a direct measure of utility, and is revolutionizing the way we look at society and policy.

Systematic discrepancies between decision utility and experienced utility, as research in the field of behavioral decision theory has been shown, question on the idea that observed choices provide a direct measure of utility, and is revolutionizing the way we look at society and policy.

Happiness
An Indian Economist in Bhutan: The Kingdom of Happiness

Diogo Gonçalves on March 3, 2014

Vatsalya Srivastava is an Indian Professor who is studying Finances in the University of Tilburg – Holland. He was my colleague in the course of Behavioral Economics. When in one class, we were discussing the Economics of Happiness, I understood he had been in Bhutan, and couldn’t resist inviting him for an interview.

Vatsalya Srivastava is an Indian Professor who is studying Finances in the University of Tilburg – Holland. He was my colleague in the course of Behavioral Economics. When in one class, we were discussing the Economics of Happiness, I understood he had been in Bhutan, and couldn’t resist inviting him for an interview.

Career
Happiness: The "Science" Behind the Free Lunch

Diogo Gonçalves on March 12, 2013

Economic indicators have been very important in the last decade, where our material needs haven't been completely satisfied, and our well-being has been closely related to the fulfillment of those needs.

Economic indicators have been very important in the last decade, where our material needs haven't been completely satisfied, and our well-being has been closely related to the fulfillment of those needs.

Persuasion
Preferences and Price, or Price and Preferences?

Diogo Gonçalves on November 30, 2012

Five recent studies gather evidence that challenges a fundamental assumption in economics: that preferences determine prices but are independent from them.

Five recent studies gather evidence that challenges a fundamental assumption in economics: that preferences determine prices but are independent from them.

Punishment
What If Value Is Constructed?

Diogo Gonçalves on October 1, 2012

What if value is subjective? Challenging markets and voluntary trade as instruments of welfare.

What if value is subjective? Challenging markets and voluntary trade as instruments of welfare.

Wisdom
Increasing Utility, Decreasing Subjective Experience

Diogo Gonçalves on June 12, 2012

When we are making decisions about a social problem, we should consider not only the technological and economic dimensions of the problem, but also the psychological ones. The Sweet Spot, would be the decision that optimizes the three.

When we are making decisions about a social problem, we should consider not only the technological and economic dimensions of the problem, but also the psychological ones. The Sweet Spot, would be the decision that optimizes the three.

Anxiety
Philosopher Alain de Botton on "Status Anxiety"

Diogo Gonçalves on May 1, 2012

Alain de Botton, the most-read philosopher alive, answered some questions about his wonderful book “Status Anxiety," which focused on the anxiety prevalent in many modern societies to be Number One.

Alain de Botton, the most-read philosopher alive, answered some questions about his wonderful book “Status Anxiety," which focused on the anxiety prevalent in many modern societies to be Number One.

Education
Telling the Truth, Repeating a Lie

Diogo Gonçalves on March 9, 2012

Believing in a self-interested model of humanity can be partial and incomplete, but even more disturbing it can also bring to surface the worst in us, contributing to a more selfish social environment.

Believing in a self-interested model of humanity can be partial and incomplete, but even more disturbing it can also bring to surface the worst in us, contributing to a more selfish social environment.

Fear
What Adam Smith Forgot

Diogo Gonçalves on January 31, 2012

Adam Smith created one of the most famous ideas in economics. The brilliant Scottish economist called his idea The Invisible Hand and through its creation removed from our minds the fear of free markets theory, making people believe that the best way to regulation is self-regulation.

Adam Smith created one of the most famous ideas in economics. The brilliant Scottish economist called his idea The Invisible Hand and through its creation removed from our minds the fear of free markets theory, making people believe that the best way to regulation is self-regulation.