When last we caught up with researcher Jim Taylor, vice chairman of The Harrison Group, he talked all about the emerging new resourcefulness of consumers. This week, delivering an update on the behav

This morning I ran across two seemingly unrelated stories:Is Happiness Still That New Car Smell?-- New York Times, Oct. 21, 2009  The recession and a growing awareness of the environment are

For millions of Americans, working out falls right in there between getting their teeth drilled and waiting in line at the DMV. We make numerous excuses for putting it off -- lack of time, lack of mo

It’s only September, but retailers already have their eye on the upcoming holidays. With the disastrous 2008 shopping season in our rear-view mirror, many analysts are hopeful that the 2009 hol

1) Secular Risk AversionRemember these days. These dark economic times will one day be accused of imprinting enduring behavioral changes on those who lived through them. Of course, it is really socia

  After a few summers highlighted by trips to the kiddie pool, my in-laws last year offered to look after our children so my husband and I could spend some time together. We chose the

As the economy struggles to keep its head above water, numerous markets--housing, banking, auto -- are facing plummeting revenue. And now -- contrary to all expectation -- live nude entertainment is

I’m getting my act together on both the fiscal and physical fronts. But I’m still a sucker for fund-raising auctions. I look at it this way: Don’t those of us who still have full-ti

In February, New York University students holed up in a school cafeteria to demand, among other things, a look at the school’s financial records. Student protests are often the canary in the co

Back-to-school shopping season is coming early this year. Oh joy!This week office supply purveyor Staples (SPLS) officially declared “opening day” to the season with a promotional tie-in t