Gerd Gigerenzer
On the Supposed Evidence for Libertarian Paternalism
Max Planck Institute for Human Development
general public learn deal risk uncertainty authorities need steer peoples choices right direction libertarian paternalists argue results psychological research show reasoning systematically flawed hardly educable cognitive biases resemble stable visual illusions reason maintain authorities know best us need step steer behavior help nudges nudges nothing new justifying basis latent irrationality article analyze scientific evidence presented justification suffers narrow logical norms misunderstanding nature rational thinking confirmation bias selective reporting research two flaws focus blame individuals minds rather external causes industries spend billions nudge people unhealthy behavior conclude claim hardly educable lacks evidence forecloses true alternative nudging teaching people become risk savvy