Vielfalt in der ökonomischen Wissenschaft: Verhaltensokonomische Ansätze in der Diskussion

It is generally assumed in the established teaching of economics that man is a Homo oeconomicus: he acts rationally based on material gains. However, does this assumption provide an accurate picture of human behaviour? Do people act rationally or is their behaviour primarily governed by emotions and...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ifo schnelldienst 2015-12, Vol.68 (51-52), p.3-12
Main Author: Weizsäcker, Georg
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Economic conditions
Emotions
Germany
Social impact
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:It is generally assumed in the established teaching of economics that man is a Homo oeconomicus: he acts rationally based on material gains. However, does this assumption provide an accurate picture of human behaviour? Do people act rationally or is their behaviour primarily governed by emotions and experiences? Georg Weizsacker, Humboldt University of Berlin, emphasizes that economists are completely familiar with this representation of an ideal image, which is also very useful to them. Indeed Georg Weizsäcker also argues that the precept of sensible action is particularly important in difficult times. According to Martin G. Kocher, University of Munich, behavioural economics not only opens the door to a new economic interdisciplinarity, but has also helped to transform economics from a very theoretical science to a highly empirical field. Felix Gelhaar, University of Kiel, and Simon Bartke, Institut für Weltwirtschaft, Kiel, point out that behavioural changes can only be achieved in the long-term via changes in preferences.
ISSN:0018-974X