Derek Thompson

[Raymond] Loewy … believed that consumers are torn between two opposing forces: neophilia, a curiosity about new things; and neophobia, a fear of anything too new. As a result, they gravitate to products that are bold, but instantly comprehensible. Loewy called his grand theory “Most Advanced Yet Acceptable”—maya. He said to sell something surprising, make it familiar; and to sell something familiar, make it surprising. … [ Read more ]

How McKinsey Destroyed the Middle Class

Technocratic management, no matter how brilliant, cannot unwind structural inequalities.

Jerry Useem, Francis Fukuyama

If you can rely on people to do what they say they’re going to do—without costly coercive mechanisms to make them dependable—a lot of things become possible.

Jerry Useem

Trust is to capitalism what alcohol is to wedding receptions: a social lubricant. In low-trust societies (Russia, southern Italy), economic growth is constrained.

Kenneth Arrow

Virtually every commercial transaction has within itself an element of trust.

The Four-Letter Code To Selling Just About Anything

When Raymond Loewy arrived in Manhattan, U.S. companies did not yet worship at the altars of style and elegance. That era’s capitalists were monotheistic: Efficiency was their only god. American factories—with their electricity, assembly lines, and scientifically calibrated workflow—produced an unprecedented supply of cheap goods by the 1920s, and it became clear that factories could make more than consumers naturally wanted. To sell more stuff, … [ Read more ]

The Secret to Happiness at Work

Your job doesn’t have to represent the most prestigious use of your potential. It just needs to be rewarding.

The Biggest Problem With Remote Work

Companies need a new kind of middle manager: the synchronizer.

The Science of Smart Hiring

Finding great new workers is hard. A little bit of empiricism can help.

People Don’t Actually Know Themselves Very Well

Chances are, your coworkers are better at rating some parts of your personality than you are.

The Dark Side of Emotional Intelligence

In some jobs, being in touch with emotions is essential. In others, it seems to be a detriment. And like any skill, being able to read people can be used for good or evil.

The Confidence Gap

Evidence shows that women are less self-assured than men—and that to succeed, confidence matters as much as competence. Here’s why, and what to do about it.

They’re Watching You at Work

What happens when Big Data meets human resources? The emerging practice of “people analytics” is already transforming how employers hire, fire, and promote.

The Optimal Office

How better design could fix your workday—and your life .

More Is More: Why the Paradox of Choice Might Be a Myth

It’s widely assumed that overwhelming people with options — whether in TVs or delicious jams — can make them less likely to make a decision. But maybe that’s wrong.

Anthropology Inc.

Forget online surveys and dinnertime robo-calls. A consulting firm called ReD is at the forefront of a new trend in market research, treating the everyday lives of consumers as a subject worthy of social-science scrutiny. On behalf of its corporate clients, ReD will uncover your deepest needs, fears, and desires.

Graeme Wood

Listen to people talk about how they break the rules, in other words, and you’ll figure out what they consider the important rules in the first place.