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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.
What Skills Do You Need As a Behavioral Economist?
Last week I celebrated having uploaded 40 interviews with prominent people in behavioural science. Quite the achievement I'd say! I hope...
Merle van den Akker
May 22, 202013 min read
What is a Behavioural Economist?
The behavioural economist. It is a peculiar animal difficult to find in the wild. It often looks lost, trying to merge economic...
Merle van den Akker
May 20, 20204 min read
Behavioural Science isn't Always the Answer...
If there's one thing that COVID-19 has shown me, it's that implementing behavioural science, or fully relying on behavioural insights can...
Merle van den Akker
May 6, 20205 min read
Change Your Mind Before You Change Your Life
Today everything seems to be about change. Improvement. Reaching new goals. But as we know, change is not that easy. Especially sudden...
Merle van den Akker
May 1, 20204 min read
Is Your Life SMART?
In the last article I talked about the need to change your mindset, before you dive in haphazardly into changing your life. Now, once in...
Merle van den Akker
Apr 29, 20205 min read
COVID-19: The Aftermath from a Behavioral Science Perspective
Spending In my previous articles on spending during COVID-19 and on journaling your spending I have already addressed that COVID-19 is a...
Merle van den Akker
Apr 17, 20205 min read
Are You Panic Working Yet?
People react to stress and crises very differently. Some people deflate like a balloon and are unable to cope with the bare necessities...
Merle van den Akker
Apr 15, 20206 min read
COVID-19 and Personal Finance: The Ultimate Re-Set
We are currently all at home (well most of us as we don’t have vital-jobs). We can’t really go out. The only real break from home that we...
Merle van den Akker
Apr 8, 20206 min read
Fifty Shades Darker: More Dark Patterns Manipulating Your Behaviour!
Last week I released an article discussing three sets of dark patterns: fake scarcity, time pressure and hidden costs. Today, we dive...
Merle van den Akker
Apr 3, 20205 min read
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