Nudges: Social Engineering or Sensible Policy?
In a world that overloads us with information and temptation, it’s nice to get some help that steers us towards making better choices. That’s the idea behind nudges – a broad term for behavioral science techniques that aim to influence how we make decisions.
The underlying philosophy behind nudges is libertarian paternalism: people should be free to make the decisions they want, but policymakers can present these choices in ways that lead to desired outcomes. For instance, employees contribute significantly more to their savings plans when they are automatically enrolled in a 401(k) program compared to when they need to opt-in. These policies help individuals save more for retirement, a generally desired goal that many may not achieve otherwise.
Should we be concerned about the use of nudges?
Yet as noted by Cass Sunstein, one of the most prominent proponents of nudging, “there can be a thin line between a self-control problem and a legitimate focus on short-term pleasure.” Despite their cost-effectiveness and wide applicability, legitimate concerns remain about if, when, and how we should nudge.
Should policymakers be influencing how people make these kinds of decisions? Even though nudges don’t mandate behaviors like laws, are nudges manipulating people into decisions they would not endorse upon reflection?
Our answers to these types of questions depend on many factors. In particular, recent research from social psychology suggests that how nudges are presented, and who presents them, strongly impacts our perceptions of these policies.
About the Author
Jared Celniker
Jared is a PhD student in social psychology and a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow at the University of California, Irvine. He studies political and moral decision-making and believes that psychological insights can help improve political discourse and policymaking.
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