1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910464391403321

Autore

Sunstein Cass R.

Titolo

Why nudge? : the politics of libertarian paternalism / / Cass R. Sunstein

Pubbl/distr/stampa

New Haven, [Connecticut] ; ; London, [England] : , : Yale University Press, , 2014

©2014

ISBN

0-300-20692-5

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (206 p.)

Collana

The Storrs Lectures Series

Classificazione

QW 300

Disciplina

323.0973

Soggetti

Paternalism - Political aspects - United States

Libertarianism - United States

Consumer behavior - Political aspects - United States

Choice (Psychology) - Economic aspects - United States

Electronic books.

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Includes index.

Nota di contenuto

Front matter -- Contents -- Introduction: Behaviorally Informed Paternalism -- ONE. Occasions for Paternalism -- TWO. The Paternalist's Toolbox -- THREE. Paternalism and Welfare -- FOUR. Paternalism and Autonomy -- FIVE. Soft Paternalism and Its Discontents -- Epilogue: The Lives We Save May Be Our Own -- Notes -- Acknowledgments -- Index

Sommario/riassunto

Based on a series of pathbreaking lectures given at Yale University in 2012, this powerful, thought-provoking work by national best-selling author Cass R. Sunstein combines legal theory with behavioral economics to make a fresh argument about the legitimate scope of government, bearing on obesity, smoking, distracted driving, health care, food safety, and other highly volatile, high-profile public issues. Behavioral economists have established that people often make decisions that run counter to their best interests-producing what Sunstein describes as "behavioral market failures." Sometimes we disregard the long term; sometimes we are unrealistically optimistic; sometimes we do not see what is in front of us. With this evidence in mind, Sunstein argues for a new form of paternalism, one that protects



people against serious errors but also recognizes the risk of government overreaching and usually preserves freedom of choice. Against those who reject paternalism of any kind, Sunstein shows that "choice architecture"-government-imposed structures that affect our choices-is inevitable, and hence that a form of paternalism cannot be avoided. He urges that there are profoundly moral reasons to ensure that choice architecture is helpful rather than harmful-and that it makes people's lives better and longer.