BlogHave you ever wondered whether starting from scratch can be a wise choice? Chicago University's Economist Steven Levitt is convinced that who is thrown into 'darkness' can have more benefits than risks.
Levitt became famous after publishing Freakonomics, a voluminous book that explains in a simple language the economy of social science. Every time he has given a provocative interview to the American newspaper "The Atlantic" in which explains why people are trying to overestimate the consequences of a "darkness" when it comes to careers.
The difference between short-term and long-term aptics
Levitt, has elaborated a modern version of the saying: when a door is closed a window opens. He conducted an experiment in which many people were asked to make an important decision, how to resign, how to spoil a fiance, or have a baby.
Each one was subjected to a test of questions and advice and in the end no one was ready to underline the arguments for and against the choice made. They were asked to settle by entrusting it to chance by throwing a coin.
Experiment limitations
Two months after the experiment, those who had decided to leave everything and start from scratch: resigning, abandoning the relationship, bringing to life a child referred to being happier than the moment they made the decision.
conclusion
Often the new road is better than the old one, at least according to Levitt.
But, from many observers, the experiment was considered not appropriately run scientifically. For example: a large part of the interviewers were followed by readers of Freakonomics, a champion that did not reflect the reality as a whole. Therefore, our most difficult choices remain in our hands.
