ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Signaling (economics)

Signaling in economics is like playing a game of show-and-tell. When you go to school and want your friends to know you're good at math, you might bring your math homework to show them.

Similarly, in economics, when someone wants to prove they're a certain type of person or have certain qualities, they'll use something called a signal.

For example, if a job applicant wants to show they're smart and hardworking, they might show their impressive education or past job experience.

If someone wants to show they're trustworthy and reliable, they might offer to put down a lot of money to rent a house or house-sit for a friend.

The signal is like a way for someone to communicate their positive qualities to others in a way that's believable and trustworthy. It's like waving a flag that says, "Hey! Look at me, I'm trustworthy/smart/hardworking!"

The idea is that by showing these signals, people can create trust and gain credibility with others, which can help them get ahead in life and in business.