behavioral science
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Do the Ends of Nudge Policy Justify the Means?
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What difference can a suggested contribution make for your retirement? In 2016, the United States’ “Thrift Savings Plan” included a recommended contribution rate, or ‘anchor rate,’ in its email messaging to the plan’s participants. This relatively low-cost nudge policy led to more than $1 million in new contributions in one…
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Can a Small Nudge Make a Big Impact on Household Energy Efficiency?
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As America’s policymakers grapple with ways to reduce the nation’s carbon footprint, one often-overlooked area is ripe for improvement: household energy consumption. According to the Department of Energy, about 22 percent of energy consumed in the United States in 2016 was used by residential households. Yet, while residential energy consumption…