The Pie: An Economics Podcast Talking to Strangers: The Economics of Social Connection
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Aug 4, 2026 
Nick Epley, behavioral science professor at Chicago Booth and author of A Little More Social, studies why people mispredict social interactions. He recounts the train moment that launched 120+ experiments. Conversations are often better than expected. He explores rising loneliness, missed chances for help, and simple habits to increase daily connection.
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Red Hat Train Conversation That Sparked Research
- Nick Epley struck up a 30-minute conversation with a woman in a red hat on a Hyde Park train and found it surprisingly pleasant.
- He learned she was raising kids, stuck in a job, and they connected by mutual struggles and warmth.
College Loneliness Rose Significantly Since 1974
- UCLA Loneliness Scale scores for college students have risen about half a standard deviation since 1974, a large effect comparable to average men being ~3 inches taller.
- Epley links the rise to modern life enabling chosen isolation (delivery, streaming, remote work).
Connection Is A Core Human Need Not A Luxury
- Attachment and isolation studies (Harlow, Romanian orphans, Bowlby) show social connection is biologically fundamental, not a luxury.
- Social contact affects survival, development, stress, and long-term mental health from infancy onward.
