Hobo Economicus

The central implication of maximising behaviour amid competition is that rates of return tend toward equality. We test that implication in a market whose participants have the traits that behavioural economics suggests should make it hardest to find evidence of maximisation: the market for panhandling at Metrorail stations in Washington, DC. We find that stations with more panhandling opportunities attract more panhandlers and that cross-station differences in hourly panhandling receipts are statistically indistinguishable from zero. Panhandling rates of return thus tend toward equality. Extreme ‘behavioural’ traits do not prevent maximisation in this market.

Political Economy Inside the Strategy of Line Game

In today's world, the concept of the game and game theory is turned into new methods of knowing and understanding some of the human behaviours followed by society. In the 21st century, behavioural economics plays a major role in understanding the concept of the `line' game and hence the strategies followed by it. It is a country game played in many parts of India. It is a two-person game with very simple rules and moves. It can be played indoors. Students play the game during the break-outs. The game keenly and minutely determines the objectivity of the game and the behaviour of the players involved inside the game and the way one starts moving helps the other players to understand what one is trying to portray through the game whether it is winning or losing. The strategies involved can be put forth and looked upon from different perspectives. Referring to one such perspective, it can be looked at from a concept of Pareto efficiency, a microeconomic concept. It helps develop logical skills and learn winning strategies.

HOW BEHAVIOURAL ECONOMICS CAN SUPPORT SCHOOLS IN THEIR FUNCTION OF BUILDING CHILDREN’S SOCIAL CAPITAL – PROBLEMS OF IMPLEMENTATION

This text describes the difficulties in implementing those activities of the model which are directly aimed at children. Most of them are carried out at school, but require the cooperation of many institutions at the same time: a social welfare centre, school, library or museum. This is one of the challenges of implementation. Another difficulty is the development of mechanisms at school through which teachers will be able to recognise that a pupil's problems in learning or in his/her relations with peers are due to certain negative patterns at home, and as a result he/she cannot count on the kind of support that children of parents who are higher in the social structure receive. In other words, the measures designed are intended to support the school to the extent that it provides social capital to children from disadvantaged families. The very specific circumstances of testing the above-mentioned actions were not without significance. This coincided with the period of the Sars-Cov-2 pandemic, which challenged the school's discharge of its basic duties towards its pupils. It is worth noting here that the school of the time of the pandemic has even fewer tools for equalising opportunities for children than in normal times.

Experimentální laboratoř PLESS

The PLESS laboratory was established in 2013 at the Faculty of Arts of Charles University. It provides both physical and online space for the implementation of research, a database of contacts for the recruitment of participants, and know-how for the technical support of studies. The created facilities are used by the members of the laboratory for their researches, in particular in the fields of experimental social psychology, psychology of decision-making, and behavioural economics. About all the studies carried out so far, the members of our team, and the studies currently under investigation topics we are working on, you can find out more at www.pless.cz.

The Dutch “Digi Commissioner” (2014-2018)

The Dutch governmental digital infrastructure (Generic Digital Infrastructure; GDI) is a vital element of state functioning. This article investigates the governance of the GDI as exemplified by the activities of the Digi Commissioner (officially the ‘National Coordinator Digital Government’). In 2014 the Digi Commissioner was made responsible for coordinating and re-structuring GDI-governance. Early 2018 his tasks were transferred to the Ministry of Interior Affairs. Some progress was made, but according to the Digi Commissioner himself the GDI still leaves much to be desired and is far from future proof. The article will discuss the Dutch digital infrastructure by adopting several perspectives. First, by defining and describing the development of the GDI. Second, by analysing the activities and achievements of the Digi Commissioner. Third, by applying behavioural economics and securitization concepts offering relevant insights with regard to the (lack of) GDI-progress.

Conceptual Framework of Behavioural Economics

The main purpose of this paper is to systematize the characteristics of behavioural economics, and, on this basis, to highlight the differences between behavioural economics and neoclassical economics. Special emphasis is placed on the differences between the real and the rational economic man. Attention is focused on economic choice modelling under the influence of behavioural economics and the emergence of the so-called limited rationality. The paper also presents the methodological tools of behavioural economics, as well as the principles on which it is built as a modern branch of economic theory.

Lecture 10: Rhetoric and Behavioral Economics

Although behavioural economists are not rhetoricians, and rhetoricians are not behavioural economists, they are both interested in persuasion, even as they come at it from different points of view. Lecture 10 argues that behavioural economics examines our choice-making practices and considers how a range of influences works in concert with conventional economic interests to shape the procedures by which we come to decisions. These influences use rhetoric to nudge people to adopt particular beliefs, engage in specific behaviour, and endorse ideas believed to be in the public interest. Les économistes comportementaux ne sont pas rhétoriciens, et les rhétoriciens ne sont pas économistes comportementaux, mais ils s’intéressent tous les deux à la persuasion, même si leurs points de vue diffèrent. Le cours 10 soutient que l’économie comportementale examine notre manière de faire des choix et il considère comment un éventail d’influences, de concert avec des intérêts économiques conventionnels, façonne les procédures par lesquelles on prend des décisions. Ces influences utilisent la rhétorique afin d’inciter les gens à adopter des croyances particulières, adopter des comportements spécifiques, et appuyer des idées censées être dans l’intérêt public.

Discussion of citizen behavioural change using the nudge effect: a perspective based on social policy interventions

PurposeThis study aims to present a communication model for promoting value co-creation between citizens and policymakers and to draw out proposals on the rationale in implementing nudge effect as well as key policy implications. The paper also revisits the close relationship between information senders and receivers (citizens) from the perspective of “citizen behaviour change” and focuses on the nudge effect, which strengthens the communication skills of policymakers (information senders) and accelerates the behaviour change of citizens (i.e. the recipients of information). Based on the study, the authors propose a conceptual framework to explain the spontaneous incentive structure of citizens.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a conceptual discussion based on a literature review. It examines the nudge effect on citizen behaviour based on information and communications models and theories. From critical discussions of literature, it proposes an analytical model that focuses on the nudge effect put forward in behavioural economics and takes into account the importance of measures to increase the sensitivity and empathy of the recipients of information.FindingsThe authors revisited the relationship between information senders and receivers from the perspective of citizen behavioural change and focus on the nudge effect, which strengthens the communication power of policymakers and accelerates the behavioural change of citizens (i.e. the recipients of information). According to the study, the authors propose a conceptual framework to explain citizens' spontaneous incentive structure. The dual perspective of policymakers and citizens should be central to the collaboration between citizens and policymakers to enhance the effectiveness of social policies, where the scope and type of value generated and the perspective of social value are essential.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper bridges the interdisciplinary research fields of behavioural economics and social policy. It is hoped that the model proposed in this paper will be an effective discussion framework for relevant researchers and practitioners when considering human resource training and system building related to information dissemination. In addition, it is hoped the model will be an effective tool for deepening discussions on topics that help to facilitate information transfer and communication within organisations.Practical implicationsThe realisation of policy intentions within the core elements of the social policy process, such as the definition of key objectives, policy mechanisms and legislation, are central elements of policy formation and are said to be highly similar across countries. The framework proposed in this study is a valid resource that can be applied in other countries and can be expected to act an effective guidepost for policy makers and other stakeholders engaged in social policy.Originality/valueUp to this point, in examinations of encouraging behavioural change in information recipients, attention has been focussed on the aspect of increasing the sender's ability to transmit information. Interventions, such as increasing the energy of the delivery, increasing the frequency and diversifying the media to make a strong impression on the receiver's consciousness, have been considered and implemented. However, this study suggests that, in addition to such efforts on the part of the sender, it is important to increase the sensitivity and affinity of the receiver to the message as preliminary preparation to receiving it.