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An economic-psychological examination of the concept of pride was conducted. This study investigated the role of pride in three economic contexts: in work, where pride may result in a preference for producing high-quality work; in social security benefits, where pride may reduce take-up; and in negotiations, where pride may generate an 'irrationally' difficult negotiating position. Pride is argued to be present in all cases since economic decisions are not made separately from one another but are interconnected by the selfhood of the decisionmakers. Pride can foster maladaptive decisions but can also generate long-term benefits.

A survey was conducted to study the psychological variables associated with consumer debt. The postal survey was done with the assistance of a public utility company. The questionnaires were sent to non-debtors, mild debtors and serious debtors. Non-debtors had more money management facilities and rated their money management abilities high. Psychological and behavioral variables affecting debt are related to the psychology of poverty.

A sample of undergraduate students is used in a study on the levels of debt and attitude towards debt. Findings show that students tend to be a low-income group, with high debts and high debt tolerance. Religion, age, number of credit cards used and tolerance towards debt are some variables significantly affecting the student group.

Four experiments where the subjects rated the utility of consumer goods were used to study predictions of microeconomic theory. The first experiment showed that marginal utility was dependent on the price and not on the frequency of consumption of the goods. Subjects independently rated total and marginal utility in the second experiment. Goods with higher demand elasticity were valued less in experiment three. There was a positive correlation between consumer's surplus and average value of goods in the fourth experiment.

Researchers in economic psychology should revise their research methodology into economic socialization from an adult to a child-centered process. In particular, researchers have preoccupied themselves with how children perceive the economic realities of adults rather than how children respond to and manipulate their economic relationships. Insights into children's economics can be examined by their behavior in playground games such as marbles and by their swapping of things owned.

A survey was conducted to determine the relationship between consumer debt and various factors such as economic resources and need, social support and attitude. The strongest correlation was found between economic factors and indebtedness. However social and psychological factors were also significant. Serious debtors generally have lower incomes and more children, were more permissive about debts and tended to have conformist attitudes.

Abstract: Economic theory and data are reviewed in the light of the concept of an economic self. In psychology, the self is in principle held to be a unified entity underlying all decisions, but in practice this unity is undermined by failures of transparency and complications of reflexivity. Current economic theory is found to be deficient in not recognising a self, but economic data confirm that the unity of the self is not absolute. A fuller account of the economic self will require a recognition of the role of human nature and emotions such as pride in forming economic tastes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]