Virtual

Mr. Spock and Homer Simpson: The Two Sides of Human Economic Behavior 2024

Date: Jan. 28, 2025

Time: 8 – 11:30 a.m. PT

CPE: 4

Overview

Explore how economics can be used to explain everyday behavior in a myriad of real-life situations. Discuss the work of the most influential and seminal minds in economics. Most people think of economists as seers who try to predict the future of the stock markets, government deficits, unemployment, etc.—a far too parochial view of what economists do. Fascinating economists are engaged in the study of human behavior. The most fertile minds in economics today deal with observing the world and trying to understand it, not predict it. Attendees will gain an appreciation for how economists view the world and the power of their theories to explain why people behave the way they do.

Product Code
1000002951-126360
Credit Type
CPE: 4
CPE-FR: 1
CPE-Technical: 4
Accessibility
Closed Captioning Available
Intended Audience
CPAs, accountants, and other financial professionals looking to expand and update their understanding and knowledge of economic behavior.
NASBA Field of Study
Economics
Level of Difficulty
Basic
Prerequisites
None.
Advance Preparation
None.

Learning Objectives

Learn why economists assume people are “rational” despite it sometimes being false

Realize that humans are both Mr. Spock (rational) and Homer Simpson (irrational), and how to optimize decisions from both

Explore how to use various economic models and theories to explain human behaviors—the reactions to various policies and incentives

Understand the principle of revealed preference; why there is usually a gap between what people say and what they do

Gain an understanding of the critical importance of price theory: how prices transmit information, allocate resources and distribute income

Learn why people cheat and learn the theory of fraud

Debate the morality and ethics of various policies and issues facing citizens today

Major Subjects

How parents decide to divide their wealth.
Is population growth a blessing or a curse?
Does the government deficit and the trade deficit hurt or help the economy?
Do companies really plan obsolescence?
Why are shopping carts getting bigger?
Should there be a free market in human organs?

Faculty

Ronald Joseph Baker

Ronald J. Baker started his CPA career in 1984 with KPMG’s Private Business Advisory Services in San Francisco. Today, he is the founder of VeraSage Institute—the leading think tank dedicated to educating professionals internationally—a radio talk-show host on the www.VoiceAmerica.com show: The Soul of Enterprise: Business in the Knowledge Economy, and the Chief Value Officer at Armanino LLP.Ron has authored seven best-selling books, including...

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Daniel D. Morris

Daniel D. Morris, CPA, is a founder of the VeraSage Institute, a think tank dedicated to teaching value pricing to professionals around the world. He is a frequent speaker at CPA events and conferences, and a consultant to CPA firms on implementing total quality service and value pricing. He has been an instructor with the CalCPA Education Foundation since 1998, and has written over a dozen courses for them. Morris presents frequently at natio...

More about Daniel D. Morris

Additional Details

This is a pre-recorded broadcast. The Instructor will be available to answer questions via the chat feature.

Mr. Spock and Homer Simpson: The Two Sides of Human Economic Behavior 2024

Member

Nonmember

Overview

Product Code

Credit Type

Accessibility

Intended Audience

NASBA Field of Study

Level of Difficulty

Prerequisites

Advance Preparation

Learning Objectives

Major Subjects

Faculty

Additional Details