Back to the future: How Denis Diderot invented behavioural economics

In this article, Malcolm White claims behavioural economics were, if not exactly invented, then certainly foreshadowed by French philosopher Denis Diderot.

Back to the future: How Denis Diderot invented behavioural economics

Malcolm WhiteKrow Communications

Everyone's crazy about behaviour change these days. Hardly a meeting that I'm in passes without someone mentioning 'nudging', Kahneman, or giving their take on System 1 and System 2 thinking. (Note to self: go to different meetings.)

Behaviour change theory has even permeated up (or is it down?) to government circles. Here in the UK, right at the heart of Her Majesty's Government in the official residence of the Prime Minister, No. 10 Downing Street itself, there is even a 'Nudge Unit' headed up by behavioural...

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