53. Christmas Creep & Wars of Attrition | THUNK
Channel: THUNK
Date: 2014-11-19

It seems the Christmas season comes earlier every year...and there's actually a decent reason why: game theory!

-Links for the Curious-

A poll of when consumers feel it is appropriate to start putting up holiday decorations - http://consumerist.com/2009/11/24/scientific-proof-that-christmas-creep-is-evil/

Some economics Ph.D's offer insight into why Christmas Creep isn't a reversible phenomenon, & why businesses are keen to bring out the tree as early as possible - http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/christmas-creep-the-shopping-season-is-longer-but-is-it-better/

A research paper quantifying just how much some decorations can affect consumer purchasing habits - http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0148296304002000

The first paper published on the famous dollar auction paradox in game theory - http://www.math.toronto.edu/mpugh/Teaching/Sci199_03/dollar_auction_1.pdf

An investigation into the increasing loudness (not necessarily volume) of TV commercials - http://www.freetv.com.au/SiteMedia/w3svc087/Uploads/Documents/f2f4d93a-dad5-4cb4-aff5-5c1c213f5d1e.pdf

The increasing usage of awesome on the internet (such word, many usage, wow) - http://www.google.com/trends/explore#q=awesome

A Canadian business owner's statement regarding holiday decorations before Remembrance Day - http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/brett-wilson-fights-against-christmas-decorations-before-remembrance-day-1.2823612

A Consumerist campaign to shame businesses who put up tinsel before Halloween - http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/business/2011/10/consumers-fight-early-christmas-decorations/