Featured Writing
Thoughtful analysis of how psychology shapes financial behaviour, spending habits, and long term decision making, translating academic research into practical insights that help individuals make smarter, more intentional financial choices.
9 Aug 2026
Merle van den Akker
Interview with Herman Smit
Herman Smit heads the Behavioural Economics Centre of Excellence at Nedbank, where he leads initiatives to drive positive behaviour change for both clients and staff by embedding the practice across the organisation. In addition to his role at Nedbank, he serves as a scientific advisor for agentic behaviour at Fae, an AI-native money companion startup, and is a research affiliate at the Cambridge Centre for Alternative Finance. Who or what got you into behavioural science? I’m a converted...
26 July 2026
Merle van den Akker
Interview with Jaclyn Kalter
Jaclyn Lefkowitz Kalter is a Behavioral Science Manager at Vanguard, where she bridges behavioural science, analytics, and UX to help clients make smarter financial decisions — including a cross-functional programme that drove $91 million in incremental investments in its first 30 days. Before Vanguard, she consulted at the World Bank and spent five years at ideas42, applying behavioural insights across consumer finance, government, and healthcare. She holds a Master in Public Policy from...
12 July 2026
Merle van den Akker
Interview with Katy Irving
Katy is Global Head of Behavioural Science at Healthcare Research Worldwide (HRW) and founder of HRW Shift — a 16-strong in-house team dedicated to behaviour change in healthcare. Armed with an MSc in Communication specialising in quantitative research and semiotics, Katy bridges academia and industry to deliver evidence-based behavioural science to clients across pharma, OTC healthcare, and diagnostics. Her approach is rigorous, cross-disciplinary, and always grounded in validated...
28 June 2026
Merle van den Akker
Interview with Tim Hogg
Tim is a behavioural scientist and Director at Fairer Finance - a consumer group in the UK with a mission to make financial services fairer for consumers and the businesses that serve them. Since earning his MSc in Behavioural Economics from the University of Nottingham, he has spent over 10 years working in financial services consultancy. Drawing on behavioural science, Tim advises policymakers on designing regulation, and firms on delivering good customer outcomes through pricing, product...
14 June 2026
Merle van den Akker
Interview with Alexander Blau
Alex Blau is a behavioral scientist working at the intersection of research, design, and product strategy. He helps organizations understand why people are not taking desired actions, then redesigns products, services, and experiences to make those behaviors more likely. At Irrational Labs, he leads engagements for clients including Intuit, Salesforce, and Serko, using behavioral diagnosis, mixed-methods research, and deign to improve customer and business outcomes. Earlier in his career, he...
31 May 2026
Merle van den Akker
Interview with Christina Hanschke
Christina's multidisciplinary career has focused on understanding people’s needs through applying behavioral science, human centered design, and systems thinking in order to co-create sustainable and innovative interventions to address complex health challenges. She was privileged to hone these skills while working at Final Mile in the global health space. There she was able to work with colleagues and collaborators on vaccine hesitancy and HIV prevention and treatment adherence. Currently...
About Merle Van
Den Akker
I study how people make financial decisions — and how financial systems can be designed to improve them.
I am a behavioural scientist working at the intersection of psychology and finance. My work focuses on how individuals make decisions about spending, investing, and risk — and how institutions can design environments that support better outcomes without undermining autonomy.
I currently serve as a Senior Product Manager at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, where I apply behavioural science to consumer banking and investing products. My role sits at the interface of research, product design, experimentation, and large-scale implementation.
Experience
8+
Years of combined academic training in psychology, economics, and behavioural science
Writing & Public Engagement
I bring together psychology, economics and personal finance:
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Academic research
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A large-scale interview series with leading behavioural scientists
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Books synthesising insights from over 250 expert conversations
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Reflections on behavioural design in financial systems
My aim is to bridge academia and practice — and to contribute to a more rigorous, ethically grounded field of behavioural finance.
Evidence-based reasoning
Clear, accessible language
Real-world relevance
Respect for academic nuance
Writing
600+
Published articles translating behavioural science and finance research for a general audience
Recommended Reads
Explore my authored works, featuring current and upcoming books that translate behavioural science insights into clear, accessible knowledge for everyday life.
The Future of Behavioural Science – According to 250+ Experts (Forthcoming)
A deep exploration of behavioural science through conversations with 250+ experts.
This book draws on extensive interviews with leading figures in behavioural science — from academics and policymakers to industry practitioners. It examines how the field has evolved, where it is headed, and what it means for real-world decision-making.
Research Handbook on Personal Finance
This Research Handbook serves as a comprehensive guide to personal finance, providing a historical overview of the field and highlighting the importance of financial wellbeing. Expert authors bring an international perspective to modern financial issues including proactive decision-making, financial socialization and trust, presenting a fresh take on this expanding landscape.
Academic Research
My academic work examines behavioural interventions in financial decision-making, with a focus on methodological transparency and real-world application.
Do People Like Financial Nudges?
Van Den Akker, M., & Sunstein, C. R. (2025). Do people like financial nudges?. Judgment and Decision Making, 20, e2.
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