Keith Chen and the monkey brain

Research economists
teamed with psychologists
aiming to study the
mercantile mind;

chose as their subjects some
Capuchin monkeys and
cotton-top tamarins
(creatures of lure).

Monkeys are partial to
marshmallows, cucumbers,
peanuts and grapes, and they
soon got the gist.

Using a system of
levers, rewards and a
budget of treats they made
progress until

scientists noticed a
well-known phenomenon:
monkeys began to trade
silver for sex.

What was discovered (in
subsequent tests) was that
monkeys don’t save and are
likely to steal –

habits suggestive of
human behavior; now
these observations led
Chen to conclude:

monkeys learn quickly and
most are astute. Hire a
monkey investor to
manage your loot.