Toward Real Man. The Long Way of Economic Theory (about Nobel Prize in Economics 2017)

Subject. The direction in the field of behavioral economics, so-called nudge theory is described. Chicago professor Richard Thaler had been awarded Nobel prize in economics 2017 for it. This award remarks the importance of new aspects of behavioral economics investigation, which weak in Russia. Targets. Author (every year till 2001) introduces main ideas of Nobel laureates on economics for Russian economists. He believed that this activity gives a possibility to compare economic research in Russia with world ones according to its themes and depth. Methodology. Methods used to boil down to texts analytics and different times economic ideas comparison. The article provides real examples of nudge theory practical applications in different spheres of economic life as well. Results. The author proves that nudge theory is natural development of restricted rationality conception, experimental and non-price economics, that it improved previous economists’ (who were Nobel prize awarded also) conceptions to practical applications. Moreover, behavioral economics development importance is detected, This subject was absent in Soviet economic science and is weakly developed in the modern Russian one. Nudge theory place is determined, in connection with justice conception, which is intimately linked with practical measures for labor market improvement and so on in R. Thaler works. Conclusions. The author concludes, that a consciousness manipulation, as a part of nudge theory, is very dangerous. Level of danger depends largely on who is a manipulator. Discussion. Nudge theory application should be accompanied by many public control measures in Russia.

Nobel prize, behavioral economics, nudge theory, non-price economics, experimental economics, restricted rationality, Nobel prize, behavioral economics, nudge theory, non-price economics, experimental economics, restricted rationality

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