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Behavioural Insights
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.
The Biased Investor: Market Downturn Edition
When it comes to behavioural finance, most people know which biases sit at the heart of investing. Hell, even I and several friends and...
Merle van den Akker
Oct 5, 20233 min read
A Glossary for Behavioural Science Jobs
Behavioural science is perpetually growing. And whereas in my days you just had to figure out whether you wanted to be an academic or an...
Merle van den Akker
Sep 14, 20235 min read
Behavioural Risk – What Is It, And How Can It Help Us?
If you enjoyed my articles on the lying and cheating culture of academia, and corporate, you might have been wondering to yourself: how...
Merle van den Akker
Aug 10, 20236 min read
Something Backfired? Blame Behavioural Science!
An article was released on the 26th of July on ABC with the title ‘Behavioural science quietly shaped Robodebt's most devilish details —...
Merle van den Akker
Aug 3, 20236 min read
How to Give Behaviourally Informed Feedback
Feedback. It’s out there in every aspect of our lives. It’s the likes we get on social media, the way people interact with us, or choose...
Merle van den Akker
Jul 20, 20235 min read
A Culture of Cheats and Liars – Corporate Edition
In last week’s post we discussed how the academic system has essentially given rise to a bunch of liars and cheaters, spurred on by the...
Merle van den Akker
Jul 13, 20234 min read
A Culture of Cheats and Liars
We have a saying in Dutch that roughly translates to: “those who go to the study psychology have psychological issues they wish to...
Merle van den Akker
Jul 6, 20236 min read
Scams, Sooo Obvious! Until They’re Not…
With a recession (likely) coming in, I bet you $20 that the chances of you getting scammed are going to go through the roof. No joke....
Merle van den Akker
Jun 22, 20234 min read
Finance and Fitness: They have more in common than you may think!
I am one of those people who really goes hard for one aspect of behavioural science, and then blatantly ignores all other insights. For...
Merle van den Akker
Jun 1, 20235 min read
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