--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The problem is that while some incentives…" description: "\"“The problem is that while some incentives are obvious, many aren’t. And simply asking people what they want or need doesn’t necessarily work. Let’s fa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/anonymous-1_economics_the-problem-is-that-while-some-incentive_1483042.jpg" --- # The problem is that while some incentives are obvious… ![“The problem is that while some incentives are obvious, many aren’t. And simply asking people what they want or need doesn’t necessarily work. Let’s face it: human beings aren’t the most candid animals on the planet. We’ll often say one thing and do another—or, more precisely, we’ll say what we…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/anonymous-1_economics_the-problem-is-that-while-some-incentive_1483042.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/anonymous-1_economics_the-problem-is-that-while-some-incentive_1483042.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/181/anonymous-1_economics_the-problem-is-that-while-some-incentive_1483042.jpg) > ““The problem is that while some incentives are obvious, many aren’t. And simply asking people what they want or need doesn’t necessarily work. Let’s face it: human beings aren’t the most candid animals on the planet. We’ll often say one thing and do another—or, more precisely, we’ll say what we think other people want to hear and then, in private, do what we want. In economics, these are known as declared preferences and revealed preferences, and there is often a hefty gap between the two.”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote highlights the mismatch between what people claim they want and what they actually choose, emphasizing that stated preferences often differ from observed behavior. **In simple terms:** People often say one thing but act differently. Key Takeaway Beware of relying solely on what people say. Themes behaviorics behavior psychology decisionmaking Mood skeptical analytical Type observational critical When to use this quote - market research - policy design - product development - user experience - negotiation Key Concepts revealed preferences declared preferences cognitive bias Questions to Reflect On - How can you uncover true preferences? - What methods reveal hidden behavior? A Different Perspective Stated preferences may be unreliable for predicting actual choices. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/economics/) [Incentives Obvious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incentives-obvious-5409166/) [Preferences Revealed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/preferences-revealed-5409167/) [Problem Incentives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/problem-incentives-5409169/) [Revealed Preferences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revealed-preferences-703994/) [Want Economics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-economics-5409168/) ## Related quotes > [“THE STUDY OF ONESELF AND OTHERS   The economists have a term called “revealed preferences” – it means that the only way you can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-marshall/the-study-of-oneself-and-others-the-economists-have-a-term-called/) [Sebastian Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-marshall/) > [“people’s “declared preferences” — what they say they want — are far different from their “revealed preferences” — what they actually do.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nir-eyal/people-s-declared-preferences-what-they-say-they-want-are-far/) [Nir Eyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nir-eyal/) > [You'll often find that people's declared preferences - what they say they want - are far different from their revealed preferences - what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nir-eyal/you-ll-often-find-that-people-s-declared-preferences-what-they-say/) [Nir Eyal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nir-eyal/) > [We have always known that heedless self interest was bad morals, we now know that it is bad economics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-always-known-that-heedless-self-interest-was-bad-morals-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Under capitalism, man oppresses man. 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Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/) [Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/) > [Our biggest challenge is to eliminate the popular perception that economists don't have anything useful to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zandi/our-biggest-challenge-is-to-eliminate-the-popular-perception-that/) [Mark Zandi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zandi/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. It is open markets, it is capitalism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/don-t-let-s-lose-sight-of-what-creates-wealth-it-is-open-markets-it/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Economics quotes > [Don't let's lose sight of what creates wealth. 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