Nudges

Nudges have become an increasingly popular policy tool and topic for academic discussions. They influence people's behavior through deliberately and smartly designing people's choice environments and framing (information about) their options. Examples are everywhere: in traffic (lines on the road), in healthcare (framing treatment options), on the work floor (opt-out systems for health insurance), in supermarkets (product placement), and online (clickbait videos and messages). This entry covers the historical background of nudges and explains what nudges are exactly and how they differ from more traditional influencing techniques. The main focus, however, lies on the state-of-the-art discussions on the ethics of nudging. The entry discusses the rationale behind nudges and analyzes the main moral worries they raise. Nudges can be used for illicit ends and are arguably manipulative and disrespectful violations of people's autonomy and agency. It concludes after discussing some of the most recent challenges that come with online nudges.