ABSTRACT
Economic science increasingly incorporates insights from psychology and the neurosciences. These developments have already resulted in new approaches to the design of economic policies, inspired by the popular term of “nudging” consumers towards more rational behaviour. However, integrative theoretical approaches have also with considerable criticism. This introduction provides an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores the implications of mechanistic philosophy of science for the integration project. It builds on the philosophical framing of Social Neuroeconomics in demonstrating how empirical research reflects mechanistic principles. The book explores the consequences of mechanistic integration of the neurosciences and the social science for the analysis of individual behaviour. It presents various aspects of what Social Neuroeconomics implies for the analysis and design of institutions and policies. The book also looks at one specific economic domain, financial markets.
