This article explores why we tend to be less thorough and less analytical when it comes to our most important decisions. We often trust prestigious figures and assume that a system works well until we have to deal with it ourselves. But this can be a mistake, as we should be taking more responsibility for our own decisions. One potential solution is to pair people with incentivised expert advisors in order to help us make better decisions. Read full article here
Oddities
Why Do Modern Pop Songs Have So Many Credited Writers?
The music industry has changed dramatically over the last few decades – with the number of songwriters credited on number one hits more than doubling. This is due to a combination of factors, including money, the computer and a changing definition of what songwriting is. For example, if The Beatles’ classic “I Feel Fine” was released today, it would likely have four writers credited instead of two, due to the influence of producers, samples and interpolations. With the rise of lawsuits, artists now preemptively add songwriter credits to their songs, even if the similarities between their song and the source material are coincidental. It all goes to show that the music industry is becoming more complex and competitive. Read full article here