Why Nudge?

Renowned public thinker Cass Sunstein defends his groundbreaking nudge theory. When the state seeks to influence our choices in “our best interests” is this liberty-infringing meddling, or simply good government?

Behavioural economists have shown that people often make decisions that run counter to their best interests. Against those who reject paternalism of any kind, Cass Sunstein, Professor of Law at Harvard, shows that "choice architecture" - government-imposed structures that affect our choices - is inevitable, and so, some form of intervention cannot be avoided.

Join Cass Sunstein at the RSA as he argues that, in fact, 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.

Speaker: Cass Sunstein, professor of law, Harvard University
Chair: Anthony Painter, director of institutional reform, RSA.