An Introduction To Behavioural Economics: Under Saving For Retirement And New Economic Models For Predicting Savings

Experimental research done by behavioural economist points out human behavioural “heuristics and biases”, that often result in less than optimal individual economic decisions. These experiments cover a wide range of economic subjects, but one that we found most important to our society is the topic of savings with respect to the retirement behaviours. Evidence suggests that savings for retirement are suboptima, and that, as a result, people experience a drop in their income upon retirement. This reality, when combined with the demographic crisis, creates opportunities for better policies that might influence saving behaviour in the direction predicted by neo-classical, which should be the optimal level at which consumption before and after retirement is smoothen. The main objective of this paper is to briefly explain current theories of behavioural economists, theories that might better explain the saving reality. We consider also that by reviewing one of the economic models developed by behavioural economists we might better predict human saving behaviour.