#39 | The price of morality

Imagine you have the choice between 100€ or the possibility to save a human life. How do you decide? A behavioral economics experiment conducted by our guest in the current SMP LeaderTalk shows that only just over 50% of the participants would prefer to save a human life and forgo the money. But that's not all: because the experiment also shows that the decisions are very likely to change if instead of 100€ only 10€ or but 1,000€ is at stake.

Prof. Dr. Armin Falk is interested in why this is so: In his research, the behavioral economist explores why we behave morally and prosocially - and why we don't. With Georgiy Michailov, he embarks on an exciting imaginary journey into the social laboratory in this SMP LeaderTalk.

The two talk about the price of morality - and about the fact that no one is morally perfect. Because Falk is certain: We all carry the good, but also the evil within us. Which side predominates in our decisions depends, in his opinion, not only on our moral convictions. But also on psychological factors, nudging and other life circumstances. But how we can favorably influence our decisions through certain preconceptions, what reciprocity has to do with it, and "Why it's so hard to be a good person" is what this episode is all about.

*Video only in German