Category Archives: Main Page

The altruism in economics

Posted on July 20, 2009 by bfiacarolinevernon

The Altruism in Economics


Standard economic theory states that people are interested only in
their own material gain. But new insights from behavioral economics
show that altruism rather than avarice is our primary motivation.

Jeremy Mercer –  http://www.dailygood.org/more.php?n=3716


It was evolutionary biologists, with their penchant for field
observation, who started to explore the question in an empirical
manner. It began with Charles Darwin, who was amazed by the cooperation
among bees; moved to William Hamilton, who studied altruism among
rabbits; and went on to include Robert Trivers’ work on sharing among
vampire bats. Once altruism was established in the natural world, the
same analytical eye inevitably turned toward the human sphere.


In 1973, a landmark experiment was conducted at blood banks in Kansas
City and Denver. It was inspired by the “crowding out” theory of
British social researcher Richard Titmuss, the idea that people perform
certain tasks, such as donating blood, for the common good, but that
their motivation would be “crowded out” if they were offered a
financial reward. The two blood banks were ideal testing grounds
because both had “willing” files bearing the names of previous donors.
For the experiment, a control group was sent the typical letter
… Continue reading →

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FCC Nominees to Consider Ownership, Diversity; Say No To Fairness Doctrine

Posted on July 18, 2009 by Trish Nelson

FCC Nominees to Consider Ownership, Diversity; Say No To Fairness Doctrine It was a love fest on Capitol Hill as members of the Senate Commerce Committee quizzed FCC nominees Mignon Clyburn (D) and Meredith Attwell Baker (R) about their views … Continue reading →

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Iowans Can Stop Tom Vilsack from Logging Tongass National Forest

Posted on July 18, 2009 by Trish Nelson

Iowans Can Stop Tom Vilsack from Logging Tongass National Forest CredoAction.com Under the so-called “Vilsack policy,” Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has said he would personally review and approve applications to cut timber in the roadless areas of our national … Continue reading →

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Senator Franken Stands up for Free and Open Internet at Sotomayor Hearing

Posted on July 17, 2009 by Trish Nelson

Senator Franken Stands up for Free and Open Internet at Sotomayor Hearing Wall Street Journal Blogs The new senator from Minnesota, Al Franken, asked a decidedly unfunny question this afternoon when it was his turn to quiz Supreme Court nominee … Continue reading →

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Iowa Media Reform Group v Sinclair Broadcasting

Posted on July 16, 2009 by Trish Nelson

by Trish Nelson Sinclair Broadcasting, the nation’s largest owner of local television stations, sixty-two stations at last count, with a local news-destroying business model that involved cutting local staff by laying off the reporters and “centralizing” the news, may be … Continue reading →

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Want health care as good as Senator Grassley’s? Apply for a job with the federal government!

Posted on July 15, 2009 by Trish Nelson

Want health care as good as Senator Grassley's? Apply for a job with the federal government! Want health care as good as Senator Grassley's? Apply for a job with the federal government!  According to Grassley, that's all you need to … Continue reading →

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Health Care Reform Update: Lend a Hand for Health Care Event Reaches Many Quad Citians

Posted on July 14, 2009 by altapricehome

Health Care Reform Update: Lend a Hand for Health Care Event Reaches Many Quad Citians by Alta Price, M.D. I spent most of the day Sunday, July 12 at the first complete display of the thousands of handprints we’ve collected … Continue reading →

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Alternative Energy Learning Opportunities in Iowa and Illinois

Posted on July 13, 2009 by Trish Nelson

Alternative Energy Learning Opportunities in Iowa and Illinois contributed by Cliff Day July 16-18 Solar Energy WorkshopLocation: Prairiewood Franciscan Spirituality Center, 120 E. Boyson Road, Hiawatha, Iowa.This three-day workshop will provide information about and experience in installing solar panels to … Continue reading →

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Insurance Insider Reveals Industry Tactics Intended to Kill Health Care Reform

Posted on July 12, 2009 by Trish Nelson

Insurance Insider Reveals Industry Tactics Intended to Kill Health Care Reform PBS.Org/Bill Moyers Journal I heard Bill Moyers speak at the National Conference on Media Reform in Memphis in 2007.  It was an eloquent, inspiring speech that I will never … Continue reading →

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Iowa’s 5th District Rep. Steve King “Explains” His Vote

Posted on July 10, 2009 by Trish Nelson

Iowa's 5th District Rep. Steve King “Explains” His Vote   [BFIA Action Alert:  Please help the 5th District Dems in their quest to replace King in 2010.  We're placing this action alert before the story because it is so important. Please … Continue reading →

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