BEHAVIORAL SOLUTIONS FOR ECONOMIC PROBLEMS

Economists now recognize that knowledge gained in other disciplines like psychology, anthropology, and sociology need to be integrated into economic thinking.

This is an encouraging trend.

Quantitative analysis of economic data at various levels or econometrics is set to become something quite different from what it is now.

One urgent and very topical concern is unemployment across many economies, especially in Europe, which is not used to such high levels of unemployment.

If this problem were to be tackled with insights gained in, say, psychology and in sociology, we may perhaps break new ground.

For quite some time now many thinkers have predicted that post-modern man will have plenty of leisure time. It is sad that our insights in psychology, particularly in behavioural science, have not been used to make such high levels of leisure a source of joy. It is also discouraging to note that insights gained in motivational analysis are not being used to make increasing levels of leisure a source and a stimulus for exploring the higher levels of motivation. We are not exploring our full psychological potential for happiness.

On the contrary, we have more workaholics. We find people feeling miserable when they have leisure time. It is known that alcoholics can suffer from anything from headache to irritability to indigestion. Worse still is the workaholic's avoidance of people that can sap his productivity and upset the balance of his family life. Insomnia may be precipitated.

Leisure time itself has become as frenetic as work time in terms of how much it drains us instead of relaxing and energizing us ! The toggle switch, as it were, that switches us from work to leisure seems not to be working well in our minds !

Leaders set examples of tight schedules and itineraries. Others follow. Some professionals program themselves in such a way they will always be hard pressed for time!

 

Business models put "short-termism" on a pedestal and optimize profits by so called cost cutting which actually translates into layoffs plus sqeeezing the last ounze of energy from employees who teeter on the verge of burnouts quite often.

Let us get back to the unemployed and see what can be done to mitigate their plight.

Unemployment, particularly in European countries and elsewhere may be looked at as failed expectations for some.

For some it erodes their sense of self worth. Doles and handouts stamp them in their own minds as not capable of standing on their feet.

For many at the lower levels of the socioeconomic pyramid it is downright poverty and hunger. Governments and private charitable activities are doing a lot here but the problem persists.

There is no quick fix for the problem, obviously.

However we can do with a lot more innovation here.

Behavioural science and motivational analysis can help us think out of the box and find innovative solutions.

Eric Berne and those after him have taken our understanding of human behaviour to high levels. We now understand how some of our personal experiences mar our day to day transactions with others. We now know how entire lives are spent acting out what are called scripts, that is, near permanent ways of behaviour. Berne was a positive and buoyant person. So he initiated thoughts on how we can change negative or destructive scripts into positive and fulfilling scripts of life. After this comes time structuring, that is we become so full of positive script living that life is full of joy and love. Berne and other psychologists after him have shown plenty of case studies to prove this point.

This is the source material to tackle some aspects of the suffering of the unemployed.

Unemployed people should be encouraged to gather in small, familiar groups to start with, preferably without the ambiance of a bar or a restaurant or gaming places. Just to meet up face to face and slowly get to know each other at a deeper personal level. Facilitators for these groups can be first trained by those who are competent to do so. Skype and other such programs can be used but nothing like physical getting together, whenever possible.

The focus would be obviously understanding our emotions and behaviour in the group setting.

The whole thing can start as a TV program like an opposite to the Big Boss programs, which seem to be so negative but riveting. If a competent person handles these episodes for a group of people who are open to self development on the TV over several episodes, maybe the trend and the awareness can catch on. Actual Group Therapies that are taking place can also a be part of the TV programme. Of course issues of privacy would have to be dealt with sensitively. But a beginning can definintely be made.

It is likely that this is the innovation that has the professional knowledge and experience backing it that may open the doors of behavioural solutions for economic problems as they are actually experienced by people as people.