Oh Ja Joh?!

Every year on Prinsjesdag, the national budget sets out how Dutch taxpayers' money is being spent. However, it is never just about the figures. Emotions and expectations also play a significant role. In this episode, we speak to Professor of Economics Robert Dur. How does he look at the national budget plans? Are we heading in the right direction?

The coalition parties have failed to reach agreement, and according to Dur, this is reflected in the national budget plans. 'What we’re seeing now isn’t even an opening bid, but more like an interim result of the internal negotiations', Dur says. He believes the government is putting off major decisions and doing far too little to tackle the major challenges currently facing the Netherlands.

• Want to know more about other research? Visit our online magazine Erasmus Extra.

We're living longer and longer. That's why it's more important than ever to be able to grow old comfortably in your own neighbourhood. But how do we create neighbourhoods where you can grow old in a healthy and happy way? And is there a "best" neighbourhood in Rotterdam to grow old in? Professor of Socio-Medical Sciences Anna Nieboer is researching this.

People in Rotterdam mention different things they feel they need: peace and quiet, greenery, safety, social contacts and good facilities keep coming up. 'We saw that in the research as well. What we as researchers found interesting is that older people sometimes value exactly the same things, but for very different reasons. Safety, for example, can be about having little nuisance, but also about having family nearby or feeling accepted and being able to be yourself in your neighbourhood,' Nieboer explains.

Want to know more about other research? Visit our online magazine Erasmus Extra.
 

Browsing through hundreds of profiles, swiping away for hours on end and coming up with the perfect opening line. People are doing this less and less: the appeal of dating apps is diminishing. We asked health psychologist Janneke Schokkenbroek why this is the case.

Schokkenbroek is conducting research into everything to do with romantic relationships in the digital age. According to her, dating apps do have potential, but they do not fulfil their intended purpose: 'As long as you use the app, they make money. And to get better matches, you have to take out a paid subscription.' There is also an abundance of choice, which has made people more critical and led them to lose interest (too) quickly on a first date.

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