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Neuroeconomics

Continuing on the theme of yesterday’s post: could future economic research be conducted in Medical schools rather than Economics departments?  A growing branch of economics is neuroeconomics (click here for its learned society), which is where neural scientists and economists study the human brain in attempt to get a handle on economic behaviour.  Robert Shiller, a leading behavioural economist, believes that the future of economics lies in a better understanding of how Keynes’s idea of animal spirits (our emotions and our less-than-rational psychological make-up) affects our behaviour.  You can read an op-ed piece by Shiller here and his co-authored book with George Akerlof is here.


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