Carla Fried

Writer

About

Carla Fried is a freelance journalist who specializes in personal finance, with a keen interest in how behavioral issues impact consumer decisions. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times, Money magazine, Barron’s, Bloomberg, CNBC and Consumer Reports.

An aerial view of homes which burned in the Eaton Fire on January 21, 2025 in Altadena, California. Research Brief / Global Warming

LA Residents Exposed to Wildfire Smoke Face Heightened Health and Financial Risk

Far from burn zones, especially for renters and those with iffy credit, money troubles follow fires

Research Brief / Banking

A Quiet Expansion of Deposit Insurance Could Disrupt U.S. Banking

Seen as a backstop to small- and midsized banks, the program, allowing insurance in multiples of $250,000, alters banking’s risk calculus

A sunny afternoon traffic jam in Chengdu, China. Research Brief / Government

Chinese Citizens, Given Voice in Local Budgeting, Are More Satisfied With Country’s Regime — and Want More From It

Taste of democracy engenders the opposite of cynicism

Hand holding up a full house featuring three 7's and two kings. Research Brief / Investing

Why Would a Hedge Fund Manager Reveal Stock Positions?

A model suggests that the data might lead index funds to target those same stocks in oversight of corporate management

Search results of three different types of pink slippers Research Brief / Consumer Behavior

As Few as Three Options Can Be Too Many for Online Shoppers 

A large field experiment suggests two items is the sweet spot for converting motivated lookers into buyers

A list of CD interest rates Research Brief / Banking

CD Withdrawal Penalties: Often More Than Worth the Risk

Banks know you won’t do the math: Even after a penalty for early withdrawal, the longer-term CD often nets out to a better deal

An illustration if how the Future You chatbot works. Research Brief / Nudges

Young Adults, With an AI Bot, Chat With Their 60-Year-Old Selves

Research progresses on forging closer bonds with our future selves, encouraging behavior helpful to later lives

Personal perspective view of a female doctor talking with a patient Research Brief / Nudges

A Psychological Approach to Helping Doctors Do Better at Doing No Harm

Behavioral nudges reduced doctors' overprescribing and overtesting of older patients

Semantic segmentation of cars on a road. Research Brief / Artificial Intelligence

AI’s Somewhat Hidden Secret: Invisible Human Workers

How 934 workers around the globe regard their labor; it doesn’t have to be this way

A color illustration of the top of the U.S. Capitol building with a crack down the center. Research Brief / Bias

Winning Buoys One’s Perception of Democracy, But Even Some Losers Appreciate the Process

Insurrection at U.S. Capitol led some Trump voters to surprising assessment

Modern woman on her way to take the train. Super commuting lifestyle. Research Brief / Nudges

Future-self Nudge Works Even Better in Reverse

Starting with your future self and looking back to your current self increases likelihood of saving

Real estate growth illustration with arrows going up. Research Question / Pricing

Pricing Algorithms Are Widely Used. Are They Legal?

A review of research comes as AI promises to turbocharge the tools and regulators allege they promote price-fixing

Two columns of three different menu price plans for internet services. Research Brief / Nudges

A Common Marketing Nudge Can Foster Consumer Distrust

Placing an inferior ‘decoy’ option in a menu of choices can trigger people to take their business elsewhere

Piggy bank over orange background Research Brief / Finance

Oversight of Borrowed Money Creates Animosity

Friends lending to friends, taxpayers bailing out businesses feel it’s still their money and have opinions on how it’s spent