Free Market Madness: Why Human Nature Is at Odds with Economics--And Why It Matters (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781422126097)

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.

Author: Peter A. Ubel
ISBN-10: 1422126099
ISBN-13: 9781422126097
Publisher: Harvard Business Review Press
Language: English
Published: 12/16/2008
Pages: 257
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.20lbs
Size: 9.20h x 6.50w x 1.30d

Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 02/01/2009 pg. 79
Chronicle of Higher Education 04/03/2009 pg. 17
Reference and Research Bk News 05/01/2009 pg. 85
Choice 04/01/2010