ABSTRACT
This chapter demonstrates that there are various aspects of the relationship of economics, psychology, and ergonomics. It presents some examples that demonstrate the method of estimating the economic efficiency of some ergonomic innovations. Innovations normally consist of two stages. The first one involves uncovering deficiencies in the existing production process, and the second one includes development and application of innovations. In the twentieth century, a body of knowledge directed toward increasing productivity and optimization of human performance has evolved. Contemporary ergonomics, economics, and work psychology are tightly interconnected because the main purpose of these fields is the study of human performance and productivity. The chapter considers the interaction of economics and psychology in the field known as job evaluation that is shared by psychologists and labor economists. It shows that the critical comments about the Gilbreths' contributions, which became sort of a tradition, are unfounded.
