Do Europeans Like Nudges?

Judgment and Decision Making, Vol. 11, No. 4, July 2016, pp. 310–325

16 Pages Posted: 29 Feb 2016 Last revised: 26 Jan 2017

See all articles by Lucia A. Reisch

Lucia A. Reisch

El-Erian Institute for Behavioural Economics and Policy; Copenhagen Business School - Department of Management, Society and Communication

Cass R. Sunstein

Harvard Law School; Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School (HKS)

Date Written: February 27, 2016

Abstract

In recent years, many governments have shown a keen interest in “nudges” – approaches to law and policy that maintain freedom of choice, but that steer people in certain directions. Yet to date, there is little evidence on whether citizens of various societies support nudges and nudging. We report the results of nationally representative surveys in six European nations: Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, and the United Kingdom. We find strong majority support for nudges of the sort that have been adopted, or under serious consideration, in democratic nations. Despite the general European consensus, we find markedly lower levels of support for nudges in two nations: Hungary and Denmark. We are not, in general, able to connect support for nudges with party affiliations.

Suggested Citation

Reisch, Lucia A. and Sunstein, Cass R., Do Europeans Like Nudges? (February 27, 2016). Judgment and Decision Making, Vol. 11, No. 4, July 2016, pp. 310–325, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2739118 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2739118

Lucia A. Reisch

El-Erian Institute for Behavioural Economics and Policy ( email )

Trumpington Rd 25
Cambridge
Great Britain

Copenhagen Business School - Department of Management, Society and Communication ( email )

Solbjerg Plads 3
Frederiksberg C, DK - 2000
Denmark

Cass R. Sunstein (Contact Author)

Harvard Law School ( email )

1575 Massachusetts Ave
Areeda Hall 225
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States
617-496-2291 (Phone)

Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) ( email )

79 John F. Kennedy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

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