Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Investigating The Municipal Nudge Unit: How Behavioral Interventions Have Quietly Emerged And Made Their Mark On American Cities, Melanie Wolfe

CMC Senior Theses

Since Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein published Nudge in 2008, policy makers and behavioral economists have applied their theory of behavioral interventions in offices called nudge units across the world. In the U.S., three models of operating nudge units have emerged in cities, and their work helps generate revenue and improve the welfare of citizens. However, the limited media attention and academic analysis dedicated to municipal nudge units has left many unresolved questions about the ethical implications and empirical challenges associated with government-sponsored behavioral interventions. Analyzing the behavioral design teams in New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia reveals a lack …