Richard Thaler joins *Economic View*

His first column is on behavioral economics and mortgages; excerpt:

Some critics contend that behavioral economists have neglected the
obvious fact that bureaucrats make errors, too. But this misses the
point. After all, wouldn’t you prefer to have a qualified, albeit
human, technician inspect your aircraft’s engines rather than do it
yourself?

The owners of ski resorts hire experts who have
previously skied the runs, under various conditions, to decide which
trails should be designated for advanced skiers. These experts know
more than a newcomer to the mountain. Bureaucrats are human, too, but
they can also hire experts and conduct research.