By now, we've all heard the good news about Cash for Clunkers. Dealers across the country have indicated that traffic is up and that the program is not only working to sell more fuel-efficient new cars but that it's bringing other new and used car shoppers into the market.
I'm afraid that our growing focus on data collection, management, and analysis is occasionally misguided and counter productive. Certainly some shopping and purchase behaviors are rational and can be understood in terms of a causal relationship.