People often make irrational decisions. An article in Quanta Magazine describes how too much choice can often be to blame. The article also discusses the attempts of neuroscientists to understand the mechanics underlying irrational decisions. Technologies like functional MRI (fMRI) are driving the emerging field of neuroeconomics. Neuroscientist Paul Glimcher claims to be ...aiming for a … [Read more...]
Latin American Leadership and Effective Governance seminar
I gave a talk last month on interactive decision making at a Leadership and Effective Governance seminar run by George Washington University. The seminar is aimed at Latin American politicians and civil servants. My talk covered topics such as stakeholder analysis game theory confrontation analysis The techniques were illustrated by examples of confrontations facing the new government of … [Read more...]
Kids learn to make decisions by making decisions
Alfie Kohn is a critic of education's fixation (in some countries) on grades and test scores. In a 2010 article entitled "How to Create Nonreaders" he argued When parents ask, "What did you do in school today?", kids often respond, "Nothing." Howard Gardner pointed out that they're probably right, because "typically school is done to students." This sort of enforced passivity is particularly … [Read more...]
The dangers of democratic decision-making
Winston Churchill once said ...it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried... I suspect the Natural Environment Research Council might beg to differ after "RRS Boaty McBoatface" has topped a national poll to name their new vessel. The danger of asking for opinions is that you might just get them. … [Read more...]
Divorce petitioners adapting to legal aid changes?
Campaigners are claiming that a rise in the allegations of domestic abuse is due to recent changes in legal aid rules. Under new legislation tax payer funding is only available for divorce cases involving verbal or physical abuse. MPs expressed concerns about creating perverse incentives when the legislation was first suggested, back in 2011. Policy-making requires systems thinking if it's not … [Read more...]