#1: Edward Lazear—Simple Incentives, Big Results And so we arrive at #1. If #2 represented the challenges of using financial incentives incorrectly, #1 in my list of favorite studies from Nothing to Take Away represents the exact opposite. The title of my book comes from the notion that so much of what we create benefits... Continue Reading →

#2: Sam Glucksberg—Why Incentives Can Hurt Problem-Solving Continuing my series on my 5 favorite pieces of research from Nothing to Take Away, we arrive at #2. It's easy to assume that the more money you offer, the more likely something is to happen. But research has shown time and again that humans are far more... Continue Reading →

#3: Dietz, Volansky, Erev, & Gal—The More (Opinions) the Merrier? Continuing my series of top 5 pieces of research from Nothing to Take Away, and building on #4—the timing of incentives—we arrive at #3. Have you ever found yourself sitting with a group, trying to agree on a course of action? Maybe you're quietly infuriated,... Continue Reading →

#4: Wooley & Fishbach—Why Timing of Incentives Matters (A Lot) Following up on the Freedman & Fraser study that made it into 5th place from my Top 5 pieces of research behind Nothing Left to Take Away, we come to #4. A question that often comes up is, "How often should we pay people?" The... Continue Reading →