543. The Winner's Curse

543. The Winner's Curse

Update: 2025-10-23
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In this episode of The Brainy Business podcast, Melina Palmer has the incredible honor of speaking with Dr. Richard Thaler and Dr. Alex Imas, co-authors of the newly reimagined edition of The Winner's Curse. This episode marks a significant milestone in behavioral economics, as Richard Thaler, a Nobel Prize-winning economist and one of the field's pioneers, shares insights into decision-making, choice architecture, and the importance of recognizing anomalies in our choices.

Together with Alex, a behavioral economist and professor at the University of Chicago, they discuss the evolution of behavioral economics, the updates included in the new edition of The Winner's Curse, and the relevance of their findings in today's world. Listeners will gain a deeper understanding of how even the most informed individuals can fall into decision-making traps and how concepts like the winner's curse and mental accounting manifest in real-world scenarios, from auctions to the stock market.

In this episode:

  • Learn about the significance of recognizing anomalies in decision-making.
  • Discover the evolution of The Winner's Curse and its relevance today.
  • Explore the impact of behavioral economics on real-world applications, such as auctions and market behavior.
  • Understand the implications of AI on consumer behavior and business strategies.
  • Reflect on the long-term value of building trust and relationships in business.

Get important links, top recommended books and episodes, and a full transcript at thebrainybusiness.com/543.

Looking to explore applications of behavioral economics further? 

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543. The Winner's Curse

543. The Winner's Curse

The Brainy Business