How to Choose

Abstract

How does one choose between educative and noneducative nudges? One answer points to social welfare : Which kind of nudge increases it? That question requires an inquiry into costs and benefits. Often educative nudges have low costs and high benefits, but sometimes they accomplish little, for example where people lack the motivation or the capacity to learn. Noneducative nudges can be simpler and more automatic. If the concern is autonomy or dignity , educative nudges have some advantages, because they equip people to make their own choices. But educative nudges can also sap autonomy , at least where they intrude on people’s limited “bandwidth,” and force them to devote their time and attention to issues on which they prefer not to focus.