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arXiv · 2301.08797

When do Default Nudges Work?

Carl Bonander·Mats Ekman·Niklas Jakobsson
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Abstract

Nudging is a burgeoning topic in science and in policy, but evidence on the effectiveness of nudges among differentially-incentivized groups is lacking. This paper exploits regional variations in the roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine in Sweden to examine the effect of a nudge on groups whose intrinsic incentives are different: 16-17-year-olds, for whom Covid-19 is not dangerous, and 50-59-year-olds, who face a substantial risk of death or severe dis-ease. We find a significantly stronger response in the younger group, consistent with the theory that nudges are more effective for choices that are not meaningful to the individual.

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Carl Bonander, Mats Ekman, Niklas Jakobsson. 2023-01-20. When do Default Nudges Work?. https://doi.org/10.1093/ooec%2Fodad094

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