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Incentives Matter

Incentives Matter

Written by: tell-tale
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 What's new in behavioral science and behavioral economics — how nudges, incentives, and cognitive biases shape decisions in healthcare, finance, risky behaviors, environment, charitable donations, and beyond. Science
Episodes
  • The $18 Trillion Snooze Button: How Banks Profit from Our Inertia

    The $18 Trillion Snooze Button: How Banks Profit from Our Inertia
    May 8 2026
    This episode explores how banks profit immensely from customer inertia, or "sleepy customers," who leave an estimated $18 trillion in deposits earning minimal interest. It delves into the behavioral economics behind why individuals don't switch banks, highlighting "psychological switching costs" as a major barrier, and reveals how banks actively encourage this inaction through strategies like price discrimination and bundling. Listeners will learn the staggering scale of these profits and the deliberate mechanisms banks use to maintain them, often penalizing loyal customers.
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    10 mins
  • The I-Frame Illusion: Why Nudging Your Trash Habits Misses the Bigger Picture

    The I-Frame Illusion: Why Nudging Your Trash Habits Misses the Bigger Picture
    May 8 2026
    This episode explores a critical perspective on waste management, highlighting the limitations of the "I-Frame" approach which primarily focuses on individual actions like household recycling. It argues that while individual efforts are valuable, they often distract from the significantly larger, systemic waste generated by industrial and institutional sectors. Listeners will learn that the vast majority of waste originates beyond individual consumers, suggesting a need to shift focus towards more impactful systemic solutions rather than solely relying on individual behavioral changes.
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    15 mins
  • The Decumulation Dilemma: Why We Refuse to Buy Lifetime Income

    The Decumulation Dilemma: Why We Refuse to Buy Lifetime Income
    May 8 2026
    This episode explores the "decumulation dilemma" in retirement, focusing on annuities as a financial product designed to provide guaranteed lifetime income and mitigate longevity risk. It delves into the strong economic arguments for annuities while simultaneously examining why most people resist purchasing them. Listeners will learn about the behavioral science behind this paradox, including key psychological barriers like loss aversion, mortality salience, and mental accounting that deter individuals from adopting these beneficial products.
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    13 mins
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