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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.
A Behavioural Scientific Case for Prepayment
Although the world may be filled with AfterPays, credit cards and other payment postponing methods, my behavioural science heart lies...
Merle van den Akker
Oct 6, 20225 min read
Using Behavioural Science to Upgrade Your Job
In the last article I explained how to save money during what is likely going to be a difficult time. Saving more money by cutting...
Merle van den Akker
Sep 22, 20227 min read
Seeing Volatile Income Through the Lense of Financial Decision Making
A while back I published a post on my own experience with payment cycles. I had switched from being paid on a monthly basis (UK) to being...
Merle van den Akker
Aug 25, 20226 min read
Subscribe Your Life Away!
In two previous articles I outlined what behavioural science had to say about managing money. And behavioural science had a lot to say....
Merle van den Akker
Aug 18, 20224 min read
A Crash Course in Understanding Meta-Analyses
A while back a meta-analysis on “The effectiveness of nudging…” was published and it took off, after it received a reply attacking its...
Merle van den Akker
Aug 11, 20225 min read
Death of a Nudge (?)
For those tuned into the field of behavioural science, you cannot have missed the recent meta-analysis gone viral: “The effectiveness of...
Merle van den Akker
Aug 4, 20226 min read
History Repeats: Are We Due For Our Roaring Twenties?
In an article by Jeremy Gutsche there was a mention of the roaring twenties returning. To put this in a little context, Jeremy argues ...
Merle van den Akker
Jul 28, 20225 min read
Why Achieving Your Goals Doesn’t Feel Like Anything: A Neuroscientific Explanation
You dreamt about it. You planned it. You worked on it. There were triumphs, initial sub-goals met. There were setbacks, life happened....
Merle van den Akker
Jul 21, 20226 min read
Immediate Gratification as Presented by Mainstream Media
In my previous article I talked about subscriptions; how they’re designed to fly under the radar payment wise, whilst at the same time...
Merle van den Akker
Jun 30, 20224 min read
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