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Musings of a Design Economist
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All Articles


A Picture (Frame?) is Worth a Thousand Words
A medical treatment succeeds 90% of the time. The same treatment fails 10% of the time. These statements contain identical information,...
8 min read


User Research Is Not User Behavior
The problem is that what people say they want and what they actually do are often completely different things. This gap matters...
5 min read


Regression Discontinuity: Finding the Exact Moment Your Design Started Working
Every design decision creates a before and after. A team decides when to launch. Designers choose where to begin. Program managers...
5 min read


Dignity in Design: The Costs of Exclusionary Design in Development Policy
Abstract This paper introduces the concept of dignity economics as a framework for understanding how design choices in economic systems...
8 min read


Culture as Infrastructure
For decades, Nigeria has been framed through a single economic lens: oil. Politicians debate resource management, economists analyze commodity price volatility and development strategists focus on diversification away from petroleum dependence. Yet this framing may be fundamentally misguided, overlooking Nigeria's most valuable and sustainable economic asset, which is its cultural capital.
9 min read


Branding by Sound
The business world runs on invisible signals. Among the most powerful is sound. When you hear the MGM lion roar or the Intel chime, your...
3 min read


Practical Implementation Strategies for Social Programs in West African Federal Systems
Effective federal coordination in social protection requires concrete mechanisms and practical approaches that address real-world...
5 min read


The Foundation of Progress
Economic growth and national development require more than favorable policies, abundant resources, or technological advancement. The most...
3 min read


Perception
Perception shapes economic reality in developing nations through mechanisms that extend far beyond traditional market forces. The ways...
5 min read


The Silent Language of True Value
Authentic luxury speaks in low tones that the truly discerning can hear. This fundamental feature shapes how luxury brands build and...
3 min read


The Stories That Shape Our Economy: Understanding Narrative Economics
Imagine hearing stories about ordinary people striking it rich by buying a $10 cryptocurrency that became worth thousands, or learning...
7 min read


The Igbo Apprenticeship System: An AI-Era Solution to the Entry-Level Jobs Crisis
As artificial intelligence reshapes the global economy, one of the most pressing challenges facing both developed and developing nations...
4 min read


Digital Ethnography in Developing Nations
When we talk about digital transformation in developing nations, we often fall into the trap of viewing it through the lens of only...
3 min read


The Multipurpose Puzzle
In Lagos, Tunde uses his smartphone as a flashlight, calculator, banking terminal, music player, camera, and business ledger. Across...
7 min read


How Piezoelectric (Footsteps?) Energy Could Transform Nigeria
Imagine a floor that turns your footsteps into electricity. It sounds like science fiction, but this technology already exists and works...
5 min read


The Intentional Logic of Social Signaling in Emerging Markets
Let’s assume a fictional scene on the outskirts of Lima, Peru, where María Fernandez spends three hours each morning preparing for work....
6 min read


Why Do Developing Economies Prefer to Pay Premium Prices for Better Design?
In the narrow streets of Dharavi, often called Asia's largest slum, residents live on an average of $2-3 per day. Yet walk through these...
4 min read


The Cartoon Advantage
When children in developing countries watch cartoons, something a tad bit unexpected happens beyond entertainment. Economic opportunity...
2 min read


The $300 Billion Dollar Bottle
A square water bottle sells for 40% more than a round one. This single design choice creates market power worth billions of dollars....
2 min read


Beyond the Obvious: Third Order Thinking in Economics and Public Policy
Economic policies often create ripple effects that extend far beyond their intended consequences. While first-order thinking focuses on...
3 min read


Classical Conditioning: The Economic Power of Learned Behavior
Consider Apple's signature unboxing experience: • the slow-lifting lid, • the perfectly fitted components, and • the pristine...
4 min read


The Systemic Carbon Cost of Power Infrastructure Gaps
Power infrastructure failures create a cascade of carbon intensive behaviors that ripple through society in unexpected ways. While...
2 min read


Frozen Assets: The $10 Ice Cube Revolution in Modern Dining
On a quiet Monday morning in Manhattan, a chef at a three Michelin starred restaurant spends 45 minutes contemplating ice. He examines...
3 min read


Trade Fragmentation: How Visual Systems Help Us Understand Global Trade
When we think about global trade fragmentation, we often picture abstract economic concepts: supply chains, trade flows, and market...
2 min read


The Paradox of Time: When Slower Means Better
In an era obsessed with speed and efficiency, a curious psychological phenomenon persists: we often associate longer wait times with...
3 min read


Local Culture and Professionalism
In the bustling tech corridors of Bangalore, manufacturing hubs of São Paulo, and financial centers of Lagos, a quiet revolution seems to...
3 min read


The Power of Social Proof: How Others Shape Our Decisions
Have you ever chosen a restaurant because it was crowded, assuming it must be good? Or felt more inclined to buy a product after seeing...
3 min read


The Art of Thought: Cultivating Effective Cognitive Strategies in the Modern World
In an era characterized by information overload and rapid technological advancement, the ability to think effectively has become more...
5 min read


How Meter Design Influences Energy Consumption
When we think about product design, our minds often jump to sleek smartphones, stylish furniture, or eye-catching automobiles. However,...
2 min read


The Power to Prosper: Energy and Economic Growth in Developing Nations
One factor stands out as a critical driver of progress in the quest for economic growth. Energy. For developing nations, access to...
3 min read


The Power of Color
Ever wonder why certain brands always use the same colors? Or why some websites make you feel calm while others energize you? The answer...
2 min read


The Psychology of Pricing: How Neuromarketing Shapes Consumer Behavior
Ever wonder why certain price tags seem to jump out at you while others fade into the background? Or why some products feel like a steal...
3 min read


Luxury as a Service (LaaS): Democratizing Premium Experiences
In recent years, a new trend has emerged in the world of luxury goods and experiences: Luxury as a Service (LaaS). This innovative...
2 min read


How Aesthetics Shape Markets
Ever wonder why suddenly everyone seems to be obsessed with mid-century modern furniture, or why millennial pink took over Instagram for...
3 min read


The Power of Design Narratives in Shaping Economic Behavior
In economics, we often think about numbers, charts, and complex mathematical models. But what if I told you that the stories we tell...
2 min read


Analytics: The Future of Fashion Trends
Ever wondered how fashion brands seem to know what's going to be hot next season? Or how they decide which celebrity should be the face...
3 min read


Measuring The True Value Of Interior Design In Commercial Real Estate
We have all walked into a beautifully designed office or retail space and thought, "Wow, this place must be worth a fortune!" But how do...
3 min read


Forward's Care Pod: Revolutionizing Healthcare Through Design and Economics
In healthcare, innovation often comes in small steps. But every once in a while, something comes along that makes us sit up and take...
3 min read


The Space Suit Economy
Ever wondered what a $12 million outfit looks like? No, it's not a diamond-encrusted Met Gala showstopper, it's an astronaut suit. But...
2 min read


From Closet to Cool: How Japan's Secondhand Clothing Trend is Reshaping Fashion and Economics
Have you noticed more people rocking vintage threads lately? It's not your imagination. Let’s explore how Japan's secondhand clothing...
2 min read


This Cucumber Salad Trend is Reshaping Restaurant Menus and Supply Chains
Have you noticed cucumber salads popping up everywhere lately? This refreshing dish is making waves not only in the culinary world. Let's...
2 min read


Economics of Exclusivity: Insights from a $280,000 Watch
When we look at the world of ultra-luxury goods, traditional economic principles often seem to operate differently. A prime example of...
2 min read


Gamification Before It Was Cool: Lessons from Nigeria's 1990s Soda Cap Craze
In the early 1990s, long before ‘gamification’ became a buzzword in marketing circles, the Nigerian Bottling Company launched a promotion...
2 min read


AI in Economics: An Old Friend in a New Spotlight
Ever feel like AI just popped up out of nowhere and suddenly took over the world? Well, in the world of economics, AI has been the cool...
2 min read


The ROI of UX: Quantifying the Business Impact of Good Design
In our digital-first world, user experience (UX) design is a crucial factor in business success. But how do we measure its impact? Let's...
2 min read


Gamification: The Key to Unlocking Workplace Engagement?
What if I told you there's a way to make work feel more engaging and, dare I say, fun? Stick with me, because I'm excited to share...
2 min read
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