Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Seinfeld: A Show About Economics And Irrationality, Josh Sufilka

The Review: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Research

The show Seinfeld is much more than a show about nothing. In each episode, unnoticed by the average viewer, common principles of economics are being presented. However, these principles are being presented in a way that differs from the typical neoclassical economic view, which is every person makes rational decisions. This paper questions the view of the writers, Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David, on their understanding of human behavior. More importantly, by focusing on two episodes, this paper argues that people do not always make rational decisions and as a result, questions neoclassical economics as a whole.