Dear Steve,

I absolutely agree with you on the importance of empirical analysis. I also agree with you that people are not "maximizers"; instead, I find it more useful to think that they are "optimizing" given the different, sometimes cross-cutting incentives they face, in combination with prior beliefs, cultural norms, etc. With our current understanding of human thought processes, no one can predict precisely how people will decide on the basis of these complex inputs. Rational choice is a simplifying set of assumptions: identify the incentives people face, and try to determine how they will channel behavior. Eventually, we will have to find a way to reintegrate cultural norms, etc. But at the moment, we have trouble doing this without committing the "attribution fallacy," as you've pointed out.

Best,
Frances