Description: The underlying premise of this paper is that enterprise risk management (ERM), as it continues to evolve as both a process and a collection of risk management techniques, can benefit from several different (but ultimately somewhat related) “megatrends.” The core of this paper concentrates on the impact on ERM of one of those megatrends: the emergence of a behavioral economics perspective, which is beginning to have a large impact on our understanding of the economy and on certain economic and business processes. The evolution and context of behavioral economics are described, and potential implications for the practice of ERM are discussed. The paper culminates with a variety of specific suggestions for ERM practice in response to findings from behavioral economics research, specifically a number of human cognitive dissonances inconsistent with traditional economic theory.

Description: Because of the growing significance of Enterprise Risk Management, it is critical to consider how ERM responds and relates to circumstances and conditions. In particular, one megatrend currently impacting our world and our understanding of the economy is the emergence of a behavioral economics perspective. This paper describes the nature of behavioral economics, and considers the potential impact of such a perspective on ERM. From Actuarial Research Clearing House, 2012, Vol. 1.