Game theory in the news–the financial crisis, Macs and viruses, the bus-wait formula, and more…
[Update: Welcome readers from Simoleon Sense] I'm on vacation through the end of the year so I'm mixing things up. I've been seeing a lot of good articles on the web about game theory and want to share them with you. Enjoy and happy holidays. (If you're looking for more to read, ...

Die Broke: A Radical Four-Part Financial Plan
Conventional money wisdom focuses on saving. If you earn more, limit expenses, and plan properly, you'll be able to save enough for retirement and still have something to pass along to the kids. This is the philosophy on which most advisers operate. But there is just one problem-the conventional wisdom ...

Why Toyota wants GM to be saved—a game theory case study
Here's the latest twist in the auto bailout: Detroit's Big Three aren't the only automotive companies that want to see the government step in with some much needed financial help. Overseas automakers, most notably Toyota Motor, all endorse some form of federal aid to keep General Motors, Chrysler LLC and possibly Ford ...

Gifts for economists, 2008
[Update: Welcome Freakonomics readers!] [Also see: Gifts for economists, 2009] Gift giving time is here, and I bet you know someone that loves economics. Maybe it's your friend that tells you how to invest. Or your professor that lectures you about why free trade is good...What kind of gifts would such people ...

4 tips for making the most of the recession
The recession has been painful. Some of my friends have lost their jobs. Others are finding it harder to stay afloat. But this is no time to look down--rather, one must make the most of a bad situation. There are opportunities during bad times. But to see them, one has to ...

A math problem that might help you win one million dollars
Louis-Charles just won $1 million dollars...for making a few sports picks. The details are the 31-year old package handler correctly made 25 picks in a row before anyone else in ESPN's Streak for the Cash game. The most important part of the game was that it emphasized streaks, also known as ...

The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous and Broke
What advice would you give to young people struggling with debt? I was wondering this question and decided to see what the experts had to say. I recently read The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke by financial expert Suze Orman. I have seen Orman appear on ...

Keeping perspective during the economic downturn
photo credit: notsogood Investment losses never feel good. Perhaps the worst part is that the losses remind us we are not always in control. The stock market is impacted by unpredictable macro-economic events. We can't control government bailouts, job layoffs, and irrational panic, but these are the things hurting all ...

Manage your career like a professional athlete: 4 strategic lessons from LeBron James’ free agency
[Update: Title and text edited to reflect a new idea that hit me unexpectedly] The old rules at work have been rewritten. Company loyalty is vanishing and competition has never been tougher. New rules call for a revised way of thinking, and Stephen M. Pollan and Mark Levine in Die Broke ...

Do stocks bounce back after a recession?
They do, but that may not be as interesting as it sounds. Many advisers have recently circulated a chart illustrating how the stock market recovers. Though each company has added its own touch, the original data come from Ned Davis Research, Inc. Here is one version from Charles Schwab: source The data seem impressive. ...