The Irrational Economist

Making Decisions in a Dangerous World

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Edited by Erwann Michel-Kerjan

Edited by Paul Slovic

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$22.99 CAD

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ebook

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Of the twenty most costly catastrophes since 1970, more than half have occurred since 2001. Is this an omen of what the 21st century will be? How might we behave in this new, uncertain and more dangerous environment? Will our actions be rational or irrational?

A select group of scholars, innovators, and Nobel Laureates was asked to address challenges to rational decision making both in our day-to-day life and in the face of catastrophic threats such as climate changes, natural disasters, technological hazards, and human malevolence. At the crossroads of decision sciences, behavioral and neuro-economics, psychology, management, insurance, and finance, their contributions aim to introduce readers to the latest thinking and discoveries.

The Irrational Economist challenges the conventional wisdom about how to make the right decisions in the new era we have entered. It reveals a profound revolution in thinking as understood by some of the greatest minds in our day, and underscores the growing role and impact of economists and other social scientists as they guide our most important personal and societal decisions.
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  • Joseph Stiglitz
    The Irrational Economist challenges conventional wisdoms, overturns traditional economic models, and brings to light new discoveries in decision sciences: The result is a profound revolution in thinking. This book will help us cope better with the myriad of important decisions under uncertainty that we face.”

    Richard M. Smith, Chairman, Newsweek
    “In The Irrational Economist some of the world’s foremost economists and decision scientists analyze how we make decisions under pressure—and offer thought-provoking ideas about how to improve the process. The result is important and remarkably timely.”

    Martin Feldstein, Professor of Economics, Harvard University; President Emeritus of the National Bureau of Economic Research
    “Dealing with extra-ordinary situations that cannot be quantified on the basis of past experience is one of the key problems facing investors, business executives, and government officials. Michel-Kerjan and Slovic brilliantly rally insights from an outstanding group of authors: There is something here for any reader.”

On Sale
Jan 5, 2010
Page Count
336 pages
Publisher
PublicAffairs
ISBN-13
9780786746262