This from Sir John Curtice the other day is a great reminder of the realities of public opinion on Brexit: Curtice for the BBC: what kind of Brexit. I picture the dashing data knight as Cleese’s Sir Lancelot at the wedding in Holy Grail, running amok through the castle, wantonly butchering hapless garlanded politicians with his SwordContinue reading “Government divided and confused, so is public – but business means business”
Category Archives: All Over The World
Johnny behavioural science mnemonics: EAST and MINDSPACE
It’s too late to improve Keanu Reaves’ acting, but there’s still hope for using behavioural economics to improve other outcomes. Here are a couple of ‘what to remember about behavioural economics’ mnemonics I thought I’d share, from my recent reading of David Halpern’s Inside the Nudge Unit. According to Halpern, the man behind the BritishContinue reading “Johnny behavioural science mnemonics: EAST and MINDSPACE”
Julia Holter: lucidity by the shore
Since I branded my qual consultancy Shore in 2010 – the ‘shore’ idea being qual research as a liminal, in-between place between communicators and the public – I find myself regularly awash with cultural references to shore-related stuff. I think it’s like when you buy a new Toyota Avensis and suddenly start noticing how manyContinue reading “Julia Holter: lucidity by the shore”
“To be thus is nothing; But to be safely thus …” Loss aversion and the human cost of economic cycles
Those with a passing familiarity with behavioural economics will have heard of “loss aversion”: as described by Tversky and Kahneman, it’s the idea that losses have twice as powerful an effect psychologically as gains. No surprise then to come across an article, Out Of The Loop, while leafing through the ESRC’s “Britain in 2015” magazine, with theContinue reading ““To be thus is nothing; But to be safely thus …” Loss aversion and the human cost of economic cycles”
A light buzz year: to infographics and beyond
I came across a link to this today while browsing the wonderful @brainpickings by Maria Popova. I know 2013 is so last year, but still – some brilliant visualisations of data on here. These examples are American, but no less interesting for that. I love the vote-weighted electoral map and the wind map in particular.Continue reading “A light buzz year: to infographics and beyond”
The World Cup of Everything Else
http://graphics.wsj.com/documents/WORLDCUPTOEE/#/?lang=en&metrics=Most%20Twitter%20Followers The Brazil World Cup starts tonight, if we can see any of it past the massive arse of aptly-named Brazilian frontman Hulk. I think he frequents the same gym as former star Ronaldo; that is, one that is a front for a pasty shop. As a football nut, I am a little beside myselfContinue reading “The World Cup of Everything Else”
Breaking Bad: corroding a hole through the top floor of Maslow’s pyramid
I know Breaking Bad is finished but a late suggestion to creator Vince Gilligan – you really should have used this classic by The Nolans as the theme tune: I recently finished a month or so in which I watched all five series on Netflix. This multi-award-winning US drama, for those still unfamiliar with it, isContinue reading “Breaking Bad: corroding a hole through the top floor of Maslow’s pyramid”
Music to my ears: Motley Crue to stop
I hate to be negative – it’s usually better to focus on bigging up the good stuff – but I really can’t abide Motley Crue. Nigel Blackwell of the Birkenhead surrealists Half Man Half Biscuit put it perfectly in their song from a few years ago Upon Westminster Bridge: Oh help me, Mrs Medlicott, I don’t knowContinue reading “Music to my ears: Motley Crue to stop”
Dead and not dead: Lou Reed and John Cooper Clarke
Which of these two reformed heroin-addicts and ex-boyfriends of Nico was likely to survive to this century? Neither. BBC4’s reputation for impressive rockumentary continues with a couple of programmes on the iPlayer now (for people in the UK who pay for it) about two wordsmiths, very different personalities but both towering figures of “alternative” popularContinue reading “Dead and not dead: Lou Reed and John Cooper Clarke”
Running Out Of Cass?
Cass Sunstein Q&A on Radio 4’s “Analysis” programme Here’s a top-up for behavioural economics enthusiasts: Edward Stourton hosts a Radio 4 programme on how the use of Nudge theory in government has gone so far – “liberal paternalism“, if you’re into squaring circles – with Nudge co-author and erstwhile Obama White House insider Cass Sunstein.Continue reading “Running Out Of Cass?”
Strangers on the Shore 