As is well understood, the values inherent in the dominant neoclassical economic paradigm are self-interest and optimisation. These are the values that guide individuals and policymakers in advanced capitalist economies in their economic decision making. As a consequence, the economics...

The purpose of this paper is to explain the main social and economic facts concerning obesity in a way that substantially improves upon existing economic theory. In contrast to existing theory, a number of recent health science writers have explained persuasively that weight gain or loss is not...

This paper focuses on a new source of economic growth, personal capital formation, and provides an explanation for a part of economic growth that has heretofore been unexplained. Personal capital is the human capacity reflecting the quality of an individual's psychological, physical, and...

The purpose of this paper is to explain the main social and economic facts concerning obesity in a way that substantially improves upon existing economic theory. In contrast to existing theory, a number of recent health science writers have explained persuasively that weight gain or loss is not...

Mainstream economics' concept of human capital unfortunately only emphasizes human cognitive development enabling growth in worker productivity and earnings. In light of recent research concerning neurodevelopment and early childhood development, it is apparent that the standard human capital...

Behavioral economics emerged in the second half of the 20th century and has become an important social science research area. Some have argued that the emergence of behavioral economics (BE) amounts to a scientific revolution. That is, they argue that BE is becoming or has become the new,...

Gerald Cory's book entitled Delusions of Economics and the Way Forward not only summarizes a lifetime of his research but adds significantly to that body. Cory's research focuses on the human brain, in particular its physiology, evolution, and implications for human behavior. His research also...

The nudge concept developed by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein has turned out to be a very important one. The paper begins by considering the basic elements of the nudge concept as well as the philosophy of libertarian paternalism; it also considers later nudge writings, notably those by...

As is well understood, the values inherent in the dominant neoclassical economic paradigm are self-interest and optimization. These are the values that guide individuals and policymakers in advanced capitalist economies in their economic decision making. As a consequence, the economics...