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THE RED TAPE CHRONICLES

Technology has hidden side effects -- we reveal them here

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Gotchas / Consumer

Cognitive bias

Why ‘give and you shall receive’ is good business

August 2, 2018 Bob Sullivan 1

“Free” is a very powerful word. Just look at the lines on National Ice Cream day and you know that’s true. Companies use the word “free” all the time to get your attention. If you’ve the Red Tape Chronicles for a while, you know this is often a bad thing [Keep reading]

Cybercrime / Privacy

Road Trip 2018: When I learned telling people you’re a journalist can be risky

July 26, 2018 Bob Sullivan 9

“What kind of journalist are you?  Do you write the truth? Or are you one of those fake journalists?” Because if you’re an honest journalist, that’s ok. But…” Moments earlier, I’d been having a lovely bar conversation with this man about beer at a brew pub while he pet Rusty.  [Keep reading]

Cognitive bias

Nerd Nuggets: What is the IKEA Effect?

July 23, 2018 Bob Sullivan 0

When you put your own blood, sweat, and tears into something, you value it more.  You probably know that, but you probably don’t know this tendency has a name — the IKEA Effect — and it has many applications in the workplace and on America’s store shelves. I’ve mentioned this [Keep reading]

Gotchas / Consumer

VIDEO: In a divided America, will moving trucks unite us?

July 12, 2018 Bob Sullivan 2

It’s hard to argue there are deep divisions between Red and Blue states in America, but one thing seems to be bringing the country together: sky-high real estate prices. Americans are fleeing expensive coastal cities, which tend to vote for Democrats, and migrating to cheaper, smaller places in the middle [Keep reading]

Gotchas / Consumer

VIDEO: Why high housing costs could unify America

July 9, 2018 Bob Sullivan 1

I appeared on CBS network this weekend — from Oklahoma City, a place that’s often mentioned in the list of cool, new cities — to talk about how internal migration might change America’s political map.  Here’s an excerpt of the story referenced in the piece.  Or, just watch the video. [Keep reading]

Cybercrime / Privacy

Who likes long airport lines? For Clear, and airports, frustration is a sales pitch

June 29, 2018 Bob Sullivan 0

“Skip the lines! No wait times!” yelled the “Clear” salespeople swarming beleaguered fliers at Sea-Tac airport on Thursday. The standard passenger security screening line wound far down the usual hallway. Travelers who approached slumped their shoulders when it came in view. But all around this frustrated and captive audience were [Keep reading]

Cybercrime / Privacy

What’s wrong with tech? The hidden side effects. Announcing the new Red Tape Chronicles (motto)

June 4, 2018 Bob Sullivan 3

Not long ago, I was approached by someone to help write a book about the race to cure cancer. It was an intriguing idea, and it sent me down a rabbit whole of research so I’d be able to understand what I’d be getting into. What I found was one [Keep reading]

Everyday economics

It’s Memorial Day. Stop working and plan a vacation, now! Also, introducing PeopleScience.com

May 24, 2018 Bob Sullivan 0

It’s Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer vacation season, which means it’s my annual chance to remind you that far too few of you are actually taking vacations.  It’s also a good time to let you all know that I am now writing stories for a cool website named [Keep reading]

Gotchas / Consumer

Are you living below the ALICE line? 43% of Americans can’t cover the basics

May 18, 2018 Bob Sullivan 1

Two-thirds of all jobs in the country are low-paying at less than $20 an hour or $40,000 a year About 43% of households, or about 51 million, don’t earn enough to cover the basics. Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, or ALICE, is a worrisome group for America What’s the minimum amount of money you [Keep reading]

Gotchas / Consumer

Forget lattes, avocado toast: Young folks are spending half their money on rent. That’s the problem

May 17, 2018 Bob Sullivan 0

It’s an age-old question: Is life harder or easier for today’s young people? Well, score a “win” for the millennials. Younger adults are spending a stunning amount of money on rent — $93,000 by age 30, according to a new study. More important, rent sucks up about 45% of their [Keep reading]

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About me

BOB SULLIVAN is a veteran journalist and the author of four books, including the 2008 New York Times Best-Seller, Gotcha Capitalism, and the 2010 New York Times Best Seller, Stop Getting Ripped Off! His latest, The Plateau Effect, was published in 2013, and as a paperback, called Getting Unstuck in 2014. He has won the Society of Professional Journalists prestigious Public Service award, a Peabody award, and The Consumer Federation of America Betty Furness award, and been given Consumer Action’s Consumer Excellence Award.

Bob Sullivan

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