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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.


No Default Is Also a Default
As soon as you try to change a system there will be resistance. People don’t like change; they are novelty averse, risk averse (the new...

Merle van den Akker
Feb 23, 20235 min read


Interview with Carlos Hoyos
Behavioural Science is a rapidly expanding field and everyday new research is being developed in academia, tested and implemented by...

Merle van den Akker
Feb 20, 20239 min read


What It's Truly Like Leaving Academia
I knew before I submitted my PhD that I was leaving academia. Throughout the PhD I had experienced aspects of academia that just weren’t...

Merle van den Akker
Feb 16, 20234 min read


Interview with James Elfer
Behavioural Science is a rapidly expanding field and everyday new research is being developed in academia, tested and implemented by...

Merle van den Akker
Feb 14, 20233 min read


Interview with Bing Feng
Behavioural Science is a rapidly expanding field and everyday new research is being developed in academia, tested and implemented by...

Merle van den Akker
Feb 6, 20234 min read


Book Review: How Economics Can Save The World
I don’t normally write book reviews on this blog. I have written articles mentioning books I think are a good starting point for getting...

Merle van den Akker
Feb 2, 20233 min read


Interview with Allison Zelkowitz
Behavioural Science is a rapidly expanding field and everyday new research is being developed in academia, tested and implemented by...

Merle van den Akker
Jan 30, 20238 min read


Approaching Debt: Financially and Behaviourally.
Most New Year’s resolutions have a financial element to them. The most popular one? Debt reduction. If you’ve got one debt your approach...

Merle van den Akker
Jan 26, 20234 min read


Interview with Christopher Boyce
Behavioural Science is a rapidly expanding field and everyday new research is being developed in academia, tested and implemented by...

Merle van den Akker
Jan 23, 202315 min read
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