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Jeff Hulett

Curator, The Curiosity Vine

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The Curiosity Vine is an idea incubator.

Our contributors have experience and interest in a variety of high-impact topics, such as science, technology, conservation, mathematics, data science, public policy, economics, and others. Our objective is to promote early-stage ideas, enable idea collaboration, and test idea purchase.

TCV platform is curated by Jeff Hulett.

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Featured Posts

From Moral Philosophy to Choice Architecture: Closing the 'Unseen' Gap in Adam Smith's System

Adam Smith’s enduring legacy rests on two pillars: the moral philosophy detailed in The Theory of Moral Sentiments (TMS) and the economic framework of The Wealth of Nations (WN) . For decades, the intellectual divide between these works—dubbed the "Adam Smith Problem"—obscured a critical truth: the two books form a single, cohesive system. The key to unification lies in Smith’s four sources of moral approval from TMS. The first three sources (motives, consequences, and gener

Econ Connections

The Mechanics of Emergence: Signal Integration in Neurons

What does Neuroscience have to do with Personal Finance? Everything! My journey into personal finance has led me to a crucial realization: the vast majority of our challenge to achieve long-term wealth begins not in spreadsheets or investment accounts, but within our own minds. The reasons we are either successful or fail are often rooted in the deep mechanics of how our brain operates and how that operation ultimately presents in our personal finance decision-making. This a

Personal Finance Journey

De-Moral Hazarding: The Strategic Use of Commitment Devices to Achieve Moral Benefit

I. Introduction: The Asymmetry of Risk and Incentive Distortion Despite the substantial welfare gains provided by risk-transfer mechanisms, the phenomenon of Moral Hazard (MH) represents a persistent challenge, contributing to systemic inefficiency and escalating costs. MH fundamentally describes the incentive distortion created when agents are insulated from the full financial consequences of their actions. Drawing from a long-established definition, Moral Hazard is understo

Personal Finance Journey

The Quiet Wealth of Parenting: 10 Practical Lessons for Raising Thriving Children

It's not about money or perfection; it's about presence, governing our seeking, and being a self-learner. Discover the 10 Practical Parenting Lessons from "The Quiet Wealth of Enough" that teach resilience, self-learning, and the true meaning of wealth for raising healthy, happy children. These lessons come from a deep understanding of the behavioral and cognitive sciences, financial education, teaching, and the practical experience of raising four confident, resilient, an

Curiosity Journey

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Mortgage Rates Update: October 23rd, 2025

For the week ending October 23rd, 2025, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate continued its recent downward trajectory, falling by a notable 8 basis points (bp). This decline is particularly interesting as the 10-Year Treasury rate simultaneously increased by 2bp, a divergence that suggests idiosyncratic factors are impacting mortgage-backed security pricing, leading to a narrowing of the spread. For a $100,000 loan at 6.19%, the monthly payment decreased $5 to $612 Upcoming releas

Econ Connections

Bill Knudson

Oct 241 min read

Treasury Rates Update: October 23rd, 2025

The narrative in the U.S. Treasury market has decidedly shifted this past week, with rates across the curve experiencing a notable decline, signaling potential market jitters or a flight to safety. This follows a period marked by government dysfunction, including the lack of CPI data this week and the earlier Federal Government shutdown. Upcoming Key Economic Data Release: Next net new job release is 11.7.25 (10.3.25 Fed Govt shutdown, no data) Next inflation release 11.13

Econ Connections

Bill Knudson

Oct 241 min read

Treasury Rates Update: October 16th, 2025

Econ Connections

Bill Knudson

Oct 241 min read

Mortgage Rates Update: October 16th, 2025

The week ending October 16th, 2025, saw a continued, though marginal, decline in 30-year fixed mortgage rates, offering a brief reprieve to borrowers. Crucially, the decoupling from Treasury movements observed last week has amplified, widening the spread between the 30-year mortgage and the 10-year T-Note. This indicates a persistent level of caution among mortgage-backed security investors For a $100,000 loan at 6.27%, the monthly payment decreased $2 to $617 Upcoming releas

Econ Connections

Bill Knudson

Oct 181 min read

Statistics, Bias, and the Better Way to Learn: Moving Beyond the Streetlamp

The foundations of modern statistics—statistical moments, correlation, regression, the chi-squared test, and ANOVA—are indispensable tools powering every field from finance to pharmaceuticals. Yet, their origins are deeply unsettling. Francis Galton, Karl Pearson, and Ronald Fisher, the brilliant minds who established these methods, were devoted proponents of eugenics, a pseudoscientific movement aimed at selective breeding [Kevles, Daniel J. 1995]. Their principal motivation

Econ Connections