Emotions, memories, opinions, and environment are some of the biases which influence people. This means that instead of an awareness-raising campaign or a ban, these and other similar elements can effectively get people to change certain behaviors. An American economist Richard Thaler spelled this out in the 2000s, referring to it as the “Nudge Theory.”
The principle, which does not have to infringe on people’s freedom to choose, has attracted increased interest from the scientific community and public authorities. According to a research team from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), “nudges” have succeeded. More than 200 scientific articles published over the last 15 years on the subject demonstrate the success according to the study’s first author, Stéphanie Mertens.
The Effectiveness of Meta-Analysis through Nudges
According to Phys.org, a meta-analysis identifies areas in which it is most relevant, according to Phys.org. Two hundred scientific articles demonstrated 450 nudge strategies categorized into three groups. Namely, information, structure, and assistance. Each of the three had a different role.
The first set was to inform individuals to make confident choices, and the second was for dealing with the structure of an environment, while the last involved a form of commitment. The researchers argue that all three sets are practical but classified the second set as the best. But they also added that the moral is applicable in economics, social psychology, political science, and business management areas.
A Sneak Peek into the Use of the Nudge Theory for Food Choices
The preference of the second group (“structure”) as the most effective was put to the test, particularly in the food area. A company cafeteria deliberately placed the healthiest dishes at the top of the menu to encourage customers to select the most beneficial option to their health. And people could easily choose the dish of preference.
All said and done, and there is so much synthesized data available to researchers now. The data will also be helpful to policymakers interested in implementing the new principle. Nonetheless, “… it is important to bear in mind that nudges are powerful tools… must therefore be used wisely and within the framework of democratic and transparent processes,” commented Tobias Brosch, Director of the Consumer Decision and Sustainable Behavior Laboratory.
