Consider our difficulties avoiding junk food and overspending. Such addictions were carefully planned-for by professional marketing teams.

The good news is that, at least in economics, I've seen movement away from its overemphasis on mathematical models of purely rational behavior to a more eclectic and commonsense approach: research that is, among other things, more respectful of insights from psychology.

Liberalism downplays certain of our moral senses: loyalty, authority, and sanctity.

Marketers know that if people you respect - perhaps laughably including entertainers and athletes - say they like a product, you're more likely to buy.

Some of the best theorizing comes after collecting data because then you become aware of another reality.

In the longer run and for wide-reaching issues, more creative solutions tend to come from imaginative interdisciplinary collaboration.

In the short run and for decisions unlikely to have broad impact, it may be more cost effective to use just one expert.