Social Economics

10 Nov

Posted at 06:02h in Behavioral Science, Market Research, Messaging, Psychology of Pop Culture, Social Economics, Social Psychology by

Because everyone else is doing it Bagels, cookies, vodka, and even humus. Love it or hate it (is there an in-between?), you can’t escape it: Fall means pumpkin spice everything.  Everybody is getting on the pumpkin spice bandwagon. Thank you, Starbucks. So, how does this obsession happen?...

03 Nov

Posted at 01:04h in Behavioral Science, Biden voters, Market Research, Psychology of Politics, Psychology of Pop Culture, Public Policy Messaging, Social Economics, Social Psychology, Trump voters, voter research by

Recently Engagious president Rich Thau posted The Science of Getting Out the Vote, a Dan Ariely article about the science of getting out the vote. ON this election day, we’re linking to another Ariely article https://www.lemonade.com/blog/persuade-your-friends-to-vote/ with a simple behavioral economics strategy for getting your friends...

25 Mar

Posted at 17:24h in Advocacy Messaging, corona virus, crisis communications, Giving Back, Market Research, Sales Messaging, small business, Social Economics, Social Psychology by

Partially inspired by my article, Those Of Us Who Can, Must, my friend Jamie Mustard (author of The Iconist and graduate of the London School of Economics) has poured his heart into a message and movement he's calling #dobusiness. With his permission I'm sharing Jamie's message here in...

16 Dec

Posted at 17:56h in Advocacy Messaging, Behavioral Science, Focus Groups, Market Research, Public Policy Messaging, Social Economics, Social Psychology, Swing Voters by

This presidential election cycle we’re seeking out swing voters in swing states to find out what they’re thinking and feeling—about the president; about the people who want to take a turn at his job; about impeachment; about the economy, trade, healthcare, and anything else that...

10 Jun

Posted at 17:08h in Customer Insights, Dial Groups, Focus Groups, Market Research, Media Testing, Psychology of Politics, Public Policy Messaging, Social Economics, Swing Voters by

We headed to Erie, Pennsylvania, for our latest meet-up with swing voters (part of our ongoing project with partner Focus Pointe Global). These voters cited a common reason for swinging: a desire for change. Our eight Erie participants all voted for Obama in 2012, and then switched...

15 Apr

Posted at 07:30h in Customer Insights, Dial Groups, Focus Groups, Market Research, Messaging, Psychology of Politics, Public Policy Messaging, Social Economics, Swing Voters by

Bowling Green, OH April 9, 2019 They say playing hard to get can increase attraction and desire. Don’t chase—make them run after you. Is that what swing voters are doing? Because politicians and media outlets want them really bad. Does this news narrative resonate with them? Do they...

07 Feb

Posted at 04:58h in Behavioral Science, Customer Insights, Market Research, Psychology of Pop Culture, Social Economics, Social Psychology by

Do you drive to work? Alone? What would it take to get you to take public transportation, or bike, or walk? The city of Durham, North Carolina, found out. City officials have good reasons to encourage people to move to alternative transportation: Traffic. Pollution. Carbon emissions. Valuable downtown...

11 Dec

Posted at 06:00h in Behavioral Science, Brand Messaging, Customer Insights, Messaging, Psychology of Pop Culture, Social Economics, Social Psychology by

Stuff might last longer than experiences; but experiences make us happier. Partly because the stuff sticks around for so long—we adapt to it, the “new stuff!” becomes normal, and it fades into the background. And partly because stuff is always separate from our identities, even when...