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Natural born consumers

A study published in Nature Human Behaviour found that prehistoric Europeans spent on small everyday expenses more often than large ones, consistent with modern Western economies. The researchers also discovered metal fragments circulated as money around 1,500 BC, supporting the idea of a market economy from an early stage.

SourceUniversity of Göttingen·JournalNature Human Behaviour·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateAug 1, 2024

Ravens can plan ahead, similar to humans and great apes

A new study reveals ravens can plan ahead for different events, such as using tools to access rewards, with a high success rate of 86%. Ravens demonstrated self-control by choosing less appealing immediate rewards over better ones, similar to great apes.

SourceAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)·JournalScience·DateJul 13, 2017

Why don't chimpanzees like to barter commodities?

Chimpanzees were reluctant to engage in extreme deals involving valuable commodities like apple slices for grapes. Despite being trained, they preferred to keep what they had. The researchers found that chimpanzees lack social systems to enforce deals and property ownership norms, which likely contributed to their reluctance.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateJan 29, 2008
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Time isn't money

A study by University of Washington researchers found that people are less certain about the value of their time compared to money. Consumers tend to rationalize negative experiences when paying with time, but not when using hard-earned cash.

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateAug 30, 2004