PRESS RELEASE:

In the aftermath of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, KUED presents NOVA "Mind Over Money," airing Tuesday, April 27 at 7:00 p.m. The special is an entertaining and penetrating exploration of why mainstream economists failed to predict the economic recession of 2008 and why the American public makes irrational financial decisions.

Through real-life experiments, "Mind Over Money" shows how mood and decision-making are tightly interwoven with economic activity and predictability. Delivering unexpected insights from experiments and leading analysts, the program exposes the mysterious and surprising nature of the two most powerful forces on the planet -- money and human economic nature.

Most Wall Street analysts believe that the market is "efficient," claiming that investors are reasonable and always operate in self-interest. However, the documentary reveals the surprising, hidden financial incentives of the general public and explores controversial new arguments about the world of finance.

In the face of the recent recession, the Nova team asks if the new science of "behavioral economics" can accurately incorporate human psychology into finances and predict the outcome. Experts featured in the program argue that classical economics work, but in extreme situations people panic and the conventional theories of economic analysis collapse.

"Mind Over Money" re-creates compelling experiments in lieu of contemporary economic theories. Viewers will see how the minds of Wall Street traders respond as they buy and sell stocks. An ingenious experiment reveals that too many choices overwhelm consumers' ability to make rational decisions.

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