SMITH BRAIN TRUST — Why do we want the things we can't have? In the toy market, especially in the holiday season, it's sometimes because demand just takes off like a flying reindeer, surprising Santa, and toy makers and everyone in between. We're referring, of course, to the Hatchimal, the small, furry, motorized creature that pecks its way out of its colorful plastic egg and sings "Happy Birthday." Store shelves and online retail sites have been widely cleared of the little coveted creatures, leaving

Smith student Philip Peker ’18 writes about the Critical Thinking Workshop on Oct. 17, 2016, at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.

Smith School marketing professor Rebecca Ratner reached millions of news consumers with her study on the upsides of solo consumerism. Overall, Ratner’s research generated more than 100 media placements, earning her the inaugural Research Communicator Impact Award from the University of Maryland's Division of Research.

SMITH BRAIN TRUST — For years, soda servings have been ballooning. For its first half-century, Coke's main product was a 6.5 ounce bottle. Later came the reign of the 12-oz. can. In recent years, you couldn't get anything smaller than a 20-oz. behemoth-bottle from many vending machines.

Why are so many people reluctant to go to the movies or dinner alone? The existence of this inhibition is widely known, but its underpinnings have been subjected to surprisingly little scientific scrutiny — until now. Research by Rebecca Ratner, a marketing professor and assistant dean for academic affairs at the Smith School, sheds new light on the psychology of solo consumerism.

Incoming freshmen at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business got a taste of what’s looming in job and internship interviews during the second annual Critical Thinking Night, part of Smith’s ‘Welcome Week’ programming. More than 400 students packed the Riggs Alumni Center for the Aug. 31, 2015 session.

Smith School Professor and Assistant Dean Rebecca Ratner talks with Huff Post Live today, Wednesday, April 29 at 4 p.m./EDT. Many people feel embarrassed about doing fun activities alone, such as dining out or going to a movie. Ratner's research finds that when solo consumers do venture out, they enjoy themselves more than they expect. The challenge for companies that offer fun experiences is to figure out how to market to solo consumers. Watch the show.

Incoming undergraduates at Smith got a taste of what’s looming in job and internship interviews during Critical Thinking Night, a new Welcome Week workshop added to meet employer demand. “Your business savvy and ability to think on your feet will be tested,” Smith senior Lindsay Weilminster ’15 told the freshmen who packed into Frank Auditorium during back-to-back sessions on Sept. 8, 2014.

Incoming undergraduates at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business got a taste of what’s looming in job and internship interviews during Critical Thinking Night, a new Welcome Week workshop added to meet employer demand.

Thursday, November 29, 2012, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, December 2, 2012, 7:30 a.m. Behavioral Economics for Businesses Many startups base their businesses on changing their customers’ behavior – which can be a challenge. But it doesn’t have to be so hard. The trick is understanding how customers make decisions and how to influence those decisions.