In the fall of 2007, when the U.S. economy first seemed in peril, I began answering reader queries here on the Business Desk. I still do so, but this page has expanded to include posts from eminent economists, "far-flung correspondents," and a variety of voices that have intriguing and/or useful things to say about economics, broadly defined. Please feel encouraged to respond to any and all of them.
Ask Behavioral Economist Dan Ariely Your Questions About the Economic Crisis and Human Behavior
Editor's Note: Dan Ariely, a noted behavioral economist at Duke University and author of Predictably Irrational, is different from many of his economist colleagues. Ariely studies irrationality in economic behavior -- despite the fact that economics is largely premised on the idea that people act completely rationally when it comes to markets and finance. The current crisis, however, has called much of those traditional theories into question, making Ariely's research all the more timely and interesting.
On Wednesday's NewsHour, Ariely talks to Paul about morality and money in the current economic crisis. Ariely has designed and carried out dozens of experiments all over the world dealing specifically with the concepts of stealing and cheating. His conclusions: People cheat just about the same way all over the world -- with one exception.
Dan and Paul will be answering viewer questions in a special Insider Forum. You can leave your questions in the Comments section below or in the Question field to the right. Check back next week for their responses.
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Ask Behavioral Economist Dan Ariely Your Questions About the Economic Crisis and Human Behavior
**Editor's Note:** Dan Ariely, a noted "behavioral economist at Duke University":http://www.fuqua.duke.edu/faculty_research/faculty_directory/ariely/ and author of "_Predictably Irrational_":http://www.predictablyirrational.com/?page_id=6, is different from many of his economist colleagues. Ariely studies irrationality in economic behavior -- despite the fact that economics is largely premised on the idea that people act completely _rationally_ when it comes to markets and finance. The current crisis, however, has called much of those traditional theories into question, making Ariely's research all the more timely and interesting.
On Wednesday's NewsHour, Ariely talks to Paul about morality and money in the current economic crisis. Ariely has designed and carried out dozens of experiments all over the world dealing specifically with the concepts of stealing and cheating. His conclusions: People cheat just about the same way all over the world -- with one exception.
Dan and Paul will be answering viewer questions in a special Insider Forum. You can leave your questions in the Comments section below or in the Question field to the right. Check back next week for their responses.
