Introduction -- Part I: An ordering of paths, well-being, and economics: how to make you, a chimp, or even a cactus, better off? -- Chapter 1: Economicus: assumptions of a neoclassical theory of behavior, and their implications— my take -- Chapter 2: Welfare (well-faring) economics as a theory...

In this paper, we attempt to shed light on whether Japanese households are rational or if their behavior is influenced by culture and social norms by examining their saving and bequest behavior. To summarize our main findings, we find that Japan's household saving rate showed great volatility,...