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Is there such thing as having too much choice?

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In his 2004 book The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less, American psychologist, Barry Schwartz, suggested that it is possible to have too much of a good thing, including choice.

Now, around Australia we are testing that theory, with much of our freedom of choice taken away. The freedom to choose where we go, where we eat, where we socialise and even who we socialise with has been removed as our worlds shrink further under more onerous lockdown restrictions.

But when the world eventually return to normal, will the return of choice make us happier? Or will the buffet of choice between restaurants, places to visit and things to do leave us with analysis paralysis and decision fatigue.

Today on Please Explain, senior economics writer Jessica Irvine joins Nathanael Cooper to discuss whether there can be too much choice.

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