Free Market Madness: Why Human Nature Is at Odds with Economics--And Why It Matters

Title: Free Market Madness: Why Human Nature Is at Odds with Economics--And Why It Matters Author: Ubel, Peter A ISBN: 9781422126097 Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press Published: 2008 Binding: Regular Hardback Language: English Condition: Used: Very Good Clean, unmarked copy with some edge wear. Good binding. Dust jacket included if issued with one. We ship in recyclable American-made mailers. 100% money-back guarantee on all orders. Economics 1555181 Publisher Description: Humans just aren't entirely rational creatures. We decide to roll over and hit the snooze button instead of going to the gym. We take out home loans we can't possibly afford. And did you know that people named Paul are more likely to move to St. Paul than other cities? All too often, our subconscious causes us to act against our own self-interest. But our free-market economy is based on the assumption that we always do act in our own self-interest. In this provocative book, physician Peter Ubel uses his understanding of psychology and behavior to show that in some cases government must regulate markets for our own health and well-being. And by understanding and controlling the factors that go into our decisions, big and small, we can all begin to stop the damage we do to our bodies, our finances, and our economy as a whole. Ubel's vivid stories bring his message home for anyone interested in improving the way our society works.