Nudging
From Cheers to Challenges
This article by Stuart Mills covers a nice overview of Nudging over the last 15 years.
Here are some highlights:
Thaler and
Sunstein’s nudge theory inspired politicians like Obama and Cameron to establish “nudge units” in government, with over 200 units worldwide today.
While the 2008 book was praised for its intuitive ideas, initial concerns were about potential state overreach.
Now, the focus has shifted to its actual effectiveness.
Recent comprehensive reviews of multiple studies challenge the efficacy of nudges.
Doubts have grown due to biases in publishing positive nudge results.
Further Criticisms:
1. Nudges have little if any impact on behavior.
2. They can distract from bigger, more effective solutions - meaning you only look at the individual and not the system - which in reality we should look at both.
Even advocates like Thaler and Sunstein have admitted that nudges aren’t the complete answer.
We at Aim For Behavior believe in a holistic approach to change, one that looks at the system, the environment and the individual and mixes methods.
In politics, nudges are popular because they’re simple and inexpensive.
For example, automatically enrolling UK workers into pension schemes boosted retirement savings. (Focus on Individual)
However, bigger issues, like overall affordability, and rise of cost of living may remain unaddressed. (Focus on the System)
While these kinds of nudges are subtle and less controversial, their effectiveness can be questionable.
This again needs to address the bigger system.
Defaults aren’t bad, they make things easier for people (making sure you have looked for them being acceptable, equitable etc..) but by no means can you expect simple nudges to solve bigger systemic issues.
Anyways, do have a read at the article.
P.S (I got some comments about there not being a Nudge “Theory” in a past post, but again there seems to be some that do use theory and some that don’t - I leave those discussions for the more equipped academics)
Nudge me with your thoughts 😉