Economic Psychology

A comprehensive overview of contemporary economic psychology

Economic Psychology presents an accessible overview of contemporary economic psychology. The science of economic mental life and behavior is increasingly relevant as people are expected to take more responsibility for their household and personal economic decisions. The text will, in addition to reviewing current knowledge on each topic presented, consider the practical and policy implications for supporting economic decision making. Economic Psychology examines the central aspects of adult decision making in everyday life and includes the theories of economic decision making based on risk, value and affect, and theories of intertemporal choice. The text reviews the nature and behavioral consequences of economic mental representations about such things as material possessions, money and the economy. 

The editor Robert Ranyard―a noted expert on economic psychology―presents a life-span developmental approach, from childhood to old age. He also reviews the important societal issues such as charitable giving and economic sustainability. This vital resource:

• Reviews the economic psychology in everyday life including financial behaviour such as saving and tax-paying and matters such as entrepreneurial activity
• Offers an introduction to the field and traces the emergence of the discipline, from Adam Smith to George Katona and Herbert Simon
• Includes information on societal issues such as charitable giving and pro-environmental behaviour
• Considers broader perspectives on economic psychology: life-span psychological development from childhood to old age

Written for students of psychology, Economic Psychology reviews the most important information on contemporary economic psychology with a focus on individual and household economic decision making, ranging widely across financial matters such as borrowing and saving, and economic activities such as buying, trading, and working. 

ROB RANYARD is a freelance researcher and Visiting Professor affiliated to the Centre for Decision Research, University of Leeds, UK. He is the editor of A Handbook of Process Tracing Methods for Decision Research (2011) and has publishing articles in journals including The Journal of Economic Psychology. He is a well-known figure in the field, previously serving as treasurer of the International Association for Research in Economic Psychology (IAREP) and currently being the IAREP country representative for the UK.