no nudges, no choice

Ezio Di Nucci – Frankfurt am Main

25.03.14

nudges are not only compatible with free choice…

nudges are also necessary for free choice.

what are nudges?

Highest OPT-IN Netherlands: 27.5%

Lowest OPT-OUT Sweden: 85.9%

what are nudges?

nudges must be less than conscious

non-propositional?

are nudges compatible with free choice?

Libertarian Peternalists should attempt to steer people’s

choices in welfare promoting directions without eliminating

freedom of choice.

They do not want to burden those who want to exercise their freedom... Libertarian

Paternalists will not force them to do otherwise – or even

make things hard for them.

Less likely ≠ more difficult

If less likely to Φ means or is explained by more difficult to Φ, then nudges violate the „hard for them“ constraint of Libertarian Paternalism.

But less likely doesn‘t have to mean or be explained by more difficult:

exit signs on motorways make it more likely that drivers will take the right exit without making it more difficult to drive on – which remains, indeed, easier.

access is key

even priming may be compatible with free choice

are nudges necessary for free choice?

rational indifference

the donkey is begging to be nudged!

…and so should we, too.