Why Nudges Are Unethical

Mark D. White

Chapter Chapter 5 in The Manipulation of Choice, 2013, pp 81-102 from Palgrave Macmillan

Abstract: Abstract In the last chapter, I discussed practical problems with libertarian paternalism based on information and interests, but I couldn’t seem to avoid the closely related ethical issues regarding respect and autonomy that are raised by value substitution. In a way, value substitution has been in the background since the first chapter of this book, since any economic model used to explain and predict behavior has to assume some goals that are likely not the goals of any real-world person. In that case, value substitution is a problem with designing models and interpreting results—a methodological problem—but it becomes an ethical problem largely when policymakers use these models to influence behavior, especially when they presume to do it in people’s interests. In other words, it becomes morally problematic when those in power act on the recommendations of behavioral economists, and the theoretical issues with behavioral economics are integrated into policy and start influencing people’s lives.

Keywords: Cognitive Bias; Behavioral Economist; Retirement Plan; Libertarian Paternalist; Voluntary Choice (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pal:palchp:978-1-137-31357-7_5

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DOI: 10.1057/9781137313577_5

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