How could economics not be behavioral? If it isn't behavioral, what the hell is it?
Charlie MungerRead
If the value of a company doesn't just scream out at you, it's too close.
Interpretation
The value of a company should be apparent and significant; otherwise, it may not be worth investing in.
Charlie Munger's quote emphasizes the importance of clarity in perceiving a company's true value. If the worth of a company is not immediately obvious, it suggests that it is too closely held in its intricacies, potentially indicating complexities or uncertainties that could make it a risky investment opportunity. It serves as a reminder to investors to seek companies whose value is evident and easily understood.
In practice
During an investment seminar focused on value investing.
How could economics not be behavioral? If it isn't behavioral, what the hell is it?
The world of derivatives is full of holes that very few people are really aware of. It's like hydrogen and oxygen sitting on the corner waiting for a little flame.
I believe in the discipline of mastering the best that other people have ever figured out. I don't believe in just sitting down and trying to dream it all up yourself. Nobody's that smart.
Economics is in many respects the queen of the soft sciences. It's expected to be better than the rest. It's my view that economics is better at the multi-disciplinary stuff than the rest of the soft science. And it's also my view that it's still lousy.
Look at this generation, with all of its electronic devices and multitasking. I will confidently predict less success than Warren, who just focused on reading.
Economics profession, they've been - they've been confident in various formulas, but economics is not physics. The same formula that works in one decade doesn't work in the next. Economics is a difficult subject.
We must learn what customers really want, not what they say they want or what we think they should want.
The most common cause of low prices is pessimism - some times pervasive, some times specific to a company or industry. We want to do business in such an environment, not because we like pessimism but because we like the prices it produces. It's optimism that is the enemy of the rational buyer.
If the employees come first, then they're happy. A motivated employee treats the customer well. The customer is happy so they keep coming back, which pleases the shareholders. It's not one of the enduring green mysteries of all time, it is just the way it works.
In business, staying focused requires that you turn most opportunities down.
Social media requires that business leaders start thinking like small-town shop owners. This means taking the long view and avoiding short-term benchmarks to gauge progress. It means allowing the personality, heart and soul of the people who run all levels of the business to show.
Statistics suggest that when customers complain, business owners and managers ought to get excited about it. The complaining customer represents a huge opportunity for more business.
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