Is There a Right Way to Nudge? The Practice and Ethics of Choice Architecture

Abstract

Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler's Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and Happiness presents an influential account of why 'choice architecture' should be used to 'nudge' people into making better decisions than they would otherwise make. In this essay we: (1) explain the main concepts that Thaler and Sunstein rely upon to defend their project; (2) clarify the main conceptual problems that have arisen in discussions about nudges; (3) clarify practical difficulties that can arise during nudge practice; (4) review the main ethical and political objections that have been raised against nudging; and (5) clarify why issues related to meaning can pose methodological problems for creating effective choice architecture.

At Home with Sustainability: From Green Default Rules to Sustainable Consumption

“…Based on this exploratory paper, I caution against too much personalization on two points. First, I echo Selinger and Whyte's ethical concerns that the more accustomed we become to having default rules set for us, the less realistic the opt-out option becomes and the more vulnerable we are to manipulation: "The main point, then, is that the more we become habituated to being nudged the less we may be bothered by the incremental introduction of more controlling tactics" [57] (p. 929). Second, the apparent inseparability of market and consumer in this research implies that for default rules for broader social change, such as with green default rules for sustainable consumption, shared social values are needed.…”

Overcoming Innovation Resistance beyond Status Quo Bias - A Decision Support System Approach (Research-in-Progress)

“…The goal of choice architecture is thus to design and incorporate small features or nudges in the decision making process in order to highlight better alternatives for the users and assist them in choosing a desired option, while not restricting their freedom of choice [50]. The concept of "nudging" decision makers in a certain directionoften a socially desired behavior -has gained much and controversial interest in practice and science [51]. While the use of choice architecture undoubtedly means undertaking some form of influence, it is important to say that any way a choice is presented to the decision maker has an effect on the decision process, no matter if there is a specific intention behind it or not [48], [52], [53].…”

Neighborhood “Choice Architecture”: A New Strategy for Lower-Emissions Urban Planning?

“…It must be noted that there is considerable debate about choice architecture and its top-down, potentially manipulative aspects (Selinger & Whyte, 2011). At the same time, many choice architects state that their aim is not to manipulate consumers in hidden ways, but to apply open community decisions about public policiesideally including the same people who will be affected by those policies, within a democratic and participatory context-and then to find ways to make implementation easier through behavioral economic strategies (Sunstein, 2015).…”