Behavioral Economics

When Psychology and Economics Collide

By: Scott Huettel, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Scott Huettel

Length: 11 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Behavioral economics is the study of decision making, and of the related themes of valuation, exchange, and interpersonal interactions. Using methods from psychology, sociology, neurology, and economics, behavioral economics sheds light one of the most fundamental activities of human life:the decision process. In 24 insightful lectures, you'll learn how behavioral economists look at decision making and explore a set of key principles that offer deep insight into how we evaluate information and integrate different factors to make decisions. Most important, using real-life illustrations and case studies, each lecture offers practical tools, so that you can understand the patterns of decision making, the purposes they serve, and how to use your knowledge to make better and more satisfying decisions.

In grasping the underlying factors in decision making, you'll explore key topics such as decisions regarding probability, time-related decisions, managing risk, high-stakes medical decisions, and group decision making. Professor Huettel illustrates each concept with meaningful examples, analogies, and case studies, relating the material directly to the decisions all of us make as a central part of living. This unique course gives you essential knowledge and insights for one of life's most important skills.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2014 The Great Courses (P)2014 The Teaching Company, LLC

Very interesting

The lecturer was easy to listen to and follow. I learned a lot, yet it was a very relate-able topic.

Fantastic

Absolutely fantastic course to not only better understand my own decision making and at times in hindsit irrational decisions but also why we as groups of individuals and a society make decisions and how we form those

Easy listen great information.

Enjoyed . An easy way to keep up without going back to school. Makes decisions made by others more understandable and relatable.

Enlightening School of Thought

Ideas shared in this course are enlightening and very powerful. They indeed make one see the world very differently.

Recommended for

if you have already read thinking fast and slow then don't bother. You don't need to read this.

however if not, go for it. The course has same content but a short version of it. I really like he starts with chapter title and summarize at the end. I wish the stories were more interesting.

Very interesting, but...

Very interesting, but the speaker does have some small annoying speaking habits, such as overemphasizing certain words.

lots of information delivered in a way that's easy

this audiobook had lots of information and was delivered in a way that was easy to understand.

Fasinating subject well explained

Where does Behavioral Economics rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It is by far my favorite great course. If I had the time I would go back to school and study it at the graduate level.

What other book might you compare Behavioral Economics to and why?

If you've enjoyed Kahneman's Thinking, Fast and Slow you will find this worthwhile as well.

Have you listened to any of Professor Scott Huettel’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

Best explanation of the dual role competition and cooperation in economic interactions.

Any additional comments?

Professor Huettel makes an effort in each lecture to explain why the subject matter is relevant by starting out with real life examples and then concludes with advice on how it might be applied by the listener. Aside from it's practical value, it helped me to understand why people behave the way the do and the decisions they make.

Sensational

While 'Thinking Fast And Slow' is the summum opus of behavioral economics, this is a worthy addition to the canon. New research, always related to practical applications - and superb final chapter on Nudges. Cannot recommend highly enough.

Clear, tested science relevant to everyday life

I listened in the car, it took about 10 trips to work (1-1.5h each) and although i sometimes had trouble paying attention, the message was very clear. It was entertaining and educational. I will be buying more audio books like this!