Tag Archives: behavioural economics

Litter in Szentendre: personal failure and policy failure

On a walk in Szentendre by the Danube yesterday, the distinction between personal failure and policy failure was clearly visible. This is the failure of individuals to be civilised citizens: And this: In contrast, this is policy failure: The combined … Continue reading

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A Seasonal Tale: The Brilliant Economists of Easter Island

In trying to explain belief economics, I was reminded of a seasonal story: the tale of the utterly brilliant economists of Easter Island.  Despite the historical inaccuracies, it nonetheless makes a startling case. Belief Economics is the study of why … Continue reading

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Stimulus and response in the EU ETS

We use a carbon tax or an emission trading scheme to stimulate investment in clean technology.  The logic of this idea is based on several steps: we charge people for emitting CO2 and as a result some will find ways … Continue reading

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Priming as policy: forest schools and nuclear power

It takes five years to educate a child from the age of five to ten.  It takes between ten and twenty years to build a nuclear power station in a democracy.  We should consider carefully the implications of this in … Continue reading

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Prosperity, possessions and flying

In a recent article published in the Guardian, L Hunter Lovins describes how a new narrative might be emerging about the economy.  http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2014/oct/10/challenge-narrative-possessions-equal-prosperity In the rich world we are realising that we don’t need possessions to achieve prosperity, happiness and … Continue reading

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