In Amsterdam, school choice is relatively free; “[choice] is not restricted by catchment areas, high tuition fees, or large distances”. These circumstances provide a brilliant environment for observing decision-making behaviour. A recent study reinforced the idea that students would apply to schools that produce graduates with higher exit test scores, but, in addition to this, the researchers were surprised by the strength of the peer effect; when choosing a secondary school, students were likely to make the same choice as their classmates. 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
Merv
March 29, 2023
