Alex Ritson of Cass Business School interviews me about Dear Undercover Economist.

Here’s the hedgehog. Here’s the book. Thanks to NPR and Planet Money for inviting me on!

For those who haven’t been able to get tickets to my talks at LSE last week or Cass Business School tomorrow, here’s yet another chance! I’m speaking about the ideas in Dear Undercover Economist at One Alfred Place on Thursday, 6.30pm for 7pm.

One Alfred Place is normally members only, but they have agreed to open the talk to non-members.

I’m presenting Radio 4’s Analysis this week, and asking: “Given that so many people think the government should encourage low-carbon technologies, what should the government actually do?” We talk to Professor Sir David King, Suzanne Scotchmer, Eric Beinhocker, James Cameron, Mark Williamson, David Rooney and Cameron Hepburn. Also, there are Spitfires and John Harrison’s clock. I learned a few things…

The program is tonight on BBC Radio 4 at 8.30pm BST, repeated on Sunday evening, and should also be downloadable here for a week.

I did an interview with NPR’s “Planet Money” about what economics can tell you about infidelity. We also covered speed dating, domestic violence and changes in economic methods from Gary Becker to Stevenson and Wolfers. You can listen on the Planet Money site.

Next Wednesday, 10 June, at 7pm, I’ll be on home turf in Hackney, talking about “The Logic of Life” and perhaps a little about my forthcoming book too. Pages of Hackney is an intimate venue, which would be a big attraction if I were Mick Jagger. But it should be fun: I understand that if you buy a book, the wine and the talk are free. Otherwise, the wine and the talk are £3. Can’t be bad.

Not very long ago, Americans were terrible savers. In 2007, the average person put aside 60 cents of every $100, or .6% per paycheck. However, the current economic downturn has shocked us into depositing more at the bank. As of February, the personal savings rate was more than 4%. That’s a big improvement, but it’s still half of 1980s levels, when Americans routinely socked away 10% of their paychecks. Why is saving so hard? And how can we be smarter savers?

Behavioral economists—researchers who mix psychology and economics—have uncovered three reasons why people find it so difficult to save. The first is temptation: Although we often later regret it, we just can’t resist spending. The second is lack of understanding: Our brains can’t quite grasp the profitability of saving. The third is optimism: We believe that everything will work out, even if we don’t save…

That is me over at Parade magazine, by all means read it all.

Here.