Nudge: Concept, Effectiveness, and Ethics

Abstract

Nudges are psychologically informed tools designed to promote behavioral change in order to improve health, wealth, and wellbeing. In this review article we focus on three areas of concern: Theory, Evidence base, Ethics. We begin by discussing the problems arising from the theoretical framework that nudges are based on, and propose an alternative framework which is used to help classify nudges into two types (Type 1 and Type 2). The review then evaluates evidence of the application of nudges in the health domain, and draws attention to critical empirical issues (internal and external reliability) which explains the limited evidence base for their effectiveness. We then end the discussion by examining the implications of the theoretical and empirical issues we discuss with respect to current debates regarding the ethics of nudge.