In the world of behavioural economics Psychologists have established our inability to treat each and every dollar the same can lead to bad decision making. Instead, when it comes to money we compartmentalise our thinking by allocating differing values based on how we receive or intend to spend it. We value each dollar according to the mental jar we store it in. So, while we may agonise over cents in the supermarkets ($2 milk anyone?) we casually spend hundreds of dollars unnecessarily in other areas (so sorry Mr. Dairy Farmer, happy days Mr. Energy Retailer and Mr. Health Insurer).

If we learnt anything over the past week, it is that we don’t compartmentalise when it comes to cheating. The outrage expressed over the cricket cheating saga is only matched by the devastation evident in the apologies of the perpetrators. And we'd be quick to tell them as this image showing results of a study asking people what would they say if given the chance to talk with the Australian cricket captain about the current cricketing crisis.

While other countries may consider ball tampering a minor offence, in Australia any form of cheating is a stain on both the game and our good name as a nation. Stage for a free kick and you will be roundly booed. Take a dive in the penalty area and we will never forgive. In Australia, we do not suffer cheats!. Or do we?

Just a little over a week ago it was confirmed that not only had the government here in Victoria cheated taxpayers out of more than $300,000, they then spent over a million dollars of our money attempting to stop the investigation. When confirmed, they offered a few words of apology and ask us to all move on. Not that they 're alone in cheating, both sides of politics are regularly caught out. Helicopter to avoid traffic? Not sure of where you were born or if you are even eligible to be in politics? Doggy in a limo? Sounds like cheating to me! What is amazing in light of this week's tearful apologies and outraged radio callers is the absolute lack of outrage when our politicians cheat us. It seems we do accept cheating and we compartmentalise our thinking based on expectations. Cheating in sport - never. Cheating in politics - well what did you expect. We expect our sports people to be honourable, but not our politicians. This can't be good for us.

When we learn to treat each dollar as a dollar we will make better financial decisions. When we treat all cheating with the same outrage and hold our politicians to the same high standards we expect from our sportspeople then we will be on the way to a much better world. Thanks for reading.