Topic: Nudges
Simple Prompts Reduce Common Fear of Social Security ‘Going Broke’
Reminding people that payroll taxes will keep flowing in — even after the trust funds hit zero — helps them understand benefits won’t disappear
Replicating a Successful Nudge in Health Care: Advice for Skeptics
How it often goes wrong and key observations for effective strategies
People Don’t Mind Government Nudges, but Prefer Them Free of Politics
When an unloved cause or political adversary is attached to a nudge, the method itself becomes suspect
Out of the Blue, a Colon Cancer Screening Kit Arrives
That approach, closer to an opt-out, beat three nudges, or opt-ins at encouraging younger people to get tested
Opting Women into Competition Could Help Narrow Gender Gap
Fixing the process and abandoning the mindset of ‘fixing the women’
Nudging Teachers, in a Large Field Study, Marginally Boosted Student Math Performance
Fifteen nudges tried out across 140,000 teachers and some 3 million students
Modest Financial Incentives Help with Weight Loss
Tying payments to weight, rather than behaviors, marginally more effective
Like Checking the Weather: Air-Quality App Charts Local Pollution
Information helps users decide when, and whether, to venture outside or exercise
Lack of Urgency Can Undermine a Popular Behavioral Nudge
Encouraging pre-commitment to a future behavior helps people do hard things — but it can backfire
How to Spot a Nudge Gone Rogue
Researchers find common warning signs in persuasion projects that went wrong
How to — and How Not to — Message Older Americans
Practitioners often ignore decades of progress in understanding what works
Household Waste Reduction Gets a Lot of Study — But Institutional Settings Are the Bigger Opportunities
Growing tension between behavioral research focused on the individual and the study of societal systems
Graphic Presentation of COVID-19 Data Can Skew Perceptions of Risk
Showing cumulative cases — not day-to-day trends — could nudge people to avoid reckless behavior
Future-self Nudge Works Even Better in Reverse
Starting with your future self and looking back to your current self increases likelihood of saving
Fresh-Start Framing Boosts Retirement Plan Participation
A behavioral nudge passes a real-world test with 6,000 workers
Does Spending Mean You’re Wealthy?
To many, yes, and that belief leads to lower levels of financial well-being