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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.
Compliance During COVID-19: Are We Just Too Relaxed About It?
Both England and the Netherlands are in lockdown, practicing social distancing, and having shut down all non-vital jobs if the work can’t...
Merle van den Akker
Apr 1, 20206 min read
Dark Patterns: How Are you Being Tricked?
You give a social media platform permission to contact everyone in your contact list (whether they are part of that platform already or...
Merle van den Akker
Mar 27, 20205 min read
What To Do From Home
I normally write articles on behavioural science, personal finance and how to manage your PhD and just survive in academia, so writing...
Merle van den Akker
Mar 25, 20206 min read
How to Find Jobs in Behavioural Science
Not too long ago the Warwick Behavioural Insights Team hosted a talk by Nathan Maddix. Nathan was kind enough to talk about BEHiring, a...
Merle van den Akker
Mar 18, 20205 min read
How Did You Become a Behavioural Scientist?
Last week I celebrated having uploaded 30 interviews with prominent people in behavioural science. Quite the achievement I'd say, and I...
Merle van den Akker
Mar 13, 202019 min read
Are You Trapped in a Multi-Level Marketing Scheme?
Have you been promised to get rich quick if you just sold your friends enough products? Multi-Level Marketing Schemes, from now on...
Merle van den Akker
Mar 6, 20205 min read
But Would It Replicate in the Netherlands?
I had a conversation with Elina Halonen not too long ago. We talked about the Dutch Behavioural Science Network (DBSN), their blog and...
Merle van den Akker
Feb 26, 20204 min read
Why I Don’t Believe In, But Do Support The FIRE Movement.
I have written about the FIRE movement (Financial Independence, Retire Early) before. And to be honest, I wasn’t too nice about the fact...
Merle van den Akker
Feb 21, 20204 min read
Preregistration: A Prerequisite for Good Science?
It’s the current bane of my life. I genuinely would not be surprised if the pre-registration for my second study, which is a big data...
Merle van den Akker
Feb 19, 20207 min read
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