Nudge (Final Edition)

Interesting book for “Choice” architects. A nudge is any aspect of the choice architecture that alters people’s behaviour in a predictable way without forbidding any options or significantly changing their economic incentives. The intervention must be easy and cheap to avoid. A sludge, is the contrary, things that make your the choice process hard: ie, cancel your broadband subscription, etc

I think the main term in the book is the “Choice” Architect, and anybody that builds anything is one. An the main take of the book is, if you want people to do something, “make it easy”. This goes from buying healthy food in a supermarket, cafeteria, taxes, retirement investment, organ donations, etc etc.

The authors talk about “Libertarian Paternalism”, is like the economic concept of “Libertarian” but with a nudge, “Paternalism” so a tiny hand pushing you via the correct path.