Homo economicus is the figurative human being used in economic modeling. But the term defines human nature as perfectly rational, perfectly logical, and always self-interested. Does that sound like any real humans you know? Nope, we didn\u2019t think so either. So we invited Professor Samuel Bowles to join Nick and Goldy in throwing a funeral for homo economicus, and all the flawed economic thinking that he\u2019s inspired over the years. \u00a0<\/p>
Samuel Bowles is a Research Professor at the Santa Fe Institute where he heads the Behavioral Sciences Program. His work on cultural evolution have challenged the conventional economic assumption that people are motivated entirely by self-interest. His most recent books are \u2018The Moral Economy: Why good laws are no substitute for good citizens\u2019 and \u2018A Cooperative Species: Human reciprocity and its revolution\u2019.\u00a0<\/p>
\u2018Spock goes shopping\u2019 was based on a thought experiment in Eric Beinhocker\u2019s book \u2018The Origin of Wealth\u2019: https:\/\/www.indiebound.org\/book\/9781422121030<\/p>
https:\/\/democracyjournal.org\/arguments\/homo-economicus-must-die\/<\/p>
https:\/\/www.core-econ.org\/<\/p>
https:\/\/yalebooksblog.co.uk\/2016\/10\/11\/the-moral-economy-homo-economicus-becomes-human\/<\/p>\n \n