What if I told you that many of the decision you make don't have to do with logic at all, but about expressing your identity? There's nothing wrong with that per se, but there are situations in which our expressive decisions can cause real harm.

Richard Jong-A-Pin is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business at the University of Groningen, Richard researches in the field of political economy and public choice, including projects on voting, political ideology, political instability, fiscal policy and economic growth. In his spare time, Richard enjoys a good swim, biking or running.
I am an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business of the University of Groningen. My research focuses on political economy and public choice and includes projects on voting, political ideology, political instability, fiscal policy and economic growth. Furthermore, I currently teach courses in macroeconomics and political economy at the department of economics, econometrics, and finance (EEF) as well as at the University College Groningen (UCG). In my spare time, I love to swim, bike, and run as much as possible. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx