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Squid Game: How Behavioural Economics explains characters actions in Netflix hit

Squid Game: How Behavioural Economics explains characters actions in Netflix hit

Netflix's new South Korean series, Squid Game, is the latest in a long line of cultural exports from the country. The show, created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, is a dramatic allegory for the capitalism of South Korea and offers several insights on economic inequality, poverty, and more generally the human condition. The show follows a desperate and out-of-work Seong Gi-hun, among others, as he participates with 455 other individuals in a series of children's games to win a large grand prize. Much like any other real-life interaction, there are several parts of Squid Game that can be viewed from the perspective of economic behaviour, drawing also from work in the behavioural sciences, psychology, among others.

Cultural Construction of Uncleanliness

Cultural Construction of Uncleanliness

In India, the term ‘social distancing’ has a history that is closely associated with caste. The term ‘social distancing’ has historically been a practice that excludes Dalits from the center of the city or village. This is done by geographically segregating places that Dalits are allowed to occupy. Studies have challenged the premise that urbanization erases caste boundaries. Meanwhile, spatial segregation remains an integral part of rural life, becoming a barrier for intra-village contact.