For Assignment 04, she and Mateo argued that while rewards could boost short-term effort, they eroded intrinsic motivation. They cited studies, added graphs, even interviewed her father (who grudgingly admitted, “Well, when you put it that way…”).

Charlotte smiled. Some incentives, she realized, were worth keeping. Would you like a different version — darker, more humorous, or set in a specific genre (sci-fi, thriller, etc.)? Just let me know.

“It’s just economics, Lottie,” her father said, tapping the laminated chart he’d pinned to the fridge. “Incentives modify behavior. You’ll see.”