Money Anxiety

This is a behavioral economics book showing readers how money anxiety impacts consumer financial behavior and the economy. The book demonstrates the impact of financial anxiety on retail sales and bank savings. When money anxiety increases, consumers save more and spend less, which pushes the economy into a recession. Conversely, when money anxiety decreases, consumers save less and spend more, which expands the economy.


Business and financial people will gain from this knowledge by reducing their expenses during times of high money anxiety, and increasing their revenues during times of low money anxiety. They will be able to measure the real price elasticity of demand for their products and services, and reducing the risk associated with their financial decisions.


This book references scientific research and empirical analysis conducted by Daniel Kahneman, Ph.D., Nobel Prize recipient in economics, on thinking fast and slow; Dan Ariely, Ph.D. on irrational behavior; Deepak Chopra, M.D. and Rudolph E. Tanzi, Ph.D. on the three major components of the human brain; and Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Ph.D. on the impact of the highly improbable.


Dr. Dan Geller developed the Money Anxiety concept and index after observing how a combination of economic indicators and factors impact consumers' financial behavior. Specifically, he developed a new segmentation method called Behavioralogy, which defines the financial behavior of consumers during various levels of financial anxiety. Behavioralogy identified six types of financial orientation: Mattress Money, Durable Diet, Power Play, Tiny Treats, Rate Race and Castle Craze.


Dr. Geller is frequently featured in national and financial publications, such as The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Bloomberg/Newsweek, and has appeared on CNBC, Fox News Radio, and numerous regional programs. Dr. Geller earned his Ph.D. in Business Administration from Touro University, and has published numerous peer-reviewed studies in professional publications. He resides in San Rafael, California.


Keywords: Behavioral Economics, Economy, Financial Anxiety, Money Anxiety, Business, Banking, Elasticity, Psychology.