Economics and Psychology: A Promising New Cross-disciplinary Field

Economics and Psychology: A Promising New Cross-disciplinary Field
ISBN-10
0262062631
ISBN-13
9780262062633
Category
Business & Economics / Economics / General
Pages
286
Language
English
Published
2007
Publisher
MIT Press
Authors
Alois Stutzer, Bruno S. Frey

Description

The integration of economics and psychology has created a vibrant and fruitfulemerging field of study. The essays in Economics and Psychology take a broad view of the interfacebetween these two disciplines, going beyond the usual focus on "behavioral economics." As documentedin this volume, the influence of psychology on economics has been responsible for a view of humanbehavior that calls into question the assumption of complete rationality (and raises the possibilityof altruistic acts), the acceptance of experiments as a valid method of economic research, and theidea that utility or well-being can be measured.The contributors, all leading researchers in thefield, offer state-of-the-art discussions of such topics as pro-social behavior and the role ofconditional cooperation and trust, happiness research as an empirical tool, the potential ofneuroeconomics as a way to deepen understanding of individual decision making, and proceduralutility as a concept that captures the well-being people derive directly from the processes andconditions leading to outcomes. Taken together, the essays in Economics and Psychology offer anassessment of where this new interdisciplinary field stands and what directions are most promisingfor future research, providing a useful guide for economists, psychologists, and socialscientists.

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