Cass Sunstein

Nudges are all around you. They might help you choose your meal at a restaurant, navigate a busy airport terminal, or start saving for the future. But nudges are often subtle, so you might not notice them until they’re pointed out. In this episode of Choiceology with Katy Milkman, we’re doing things a little differently. This episode is your guide to the many ways nudges have changed the world for the better. We'll revisit examples of nudges you may recognize from previous episodes of Choiceology. UCLA professor Shlomo Benartzi explains why defaults help more people save for retirement. University of Chicago professor Ayelet Fishbach reminds us how making the best choice a fun one is a great way to encourage better decisions. Harvard professor Todd Rogers discusses how social norms can help people reduce water and energy usage in hotels. You'll hear a feature interview with Nobel Prize-winning economist Richard Thaler, who along with Harvard law professor Cass Sunstein popularized nudges more than a decade ago in their book Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness. And Cass Sunstein himself talks about how simplifying application forms can have an outsized impact on financial aid programs for students.Richard Thaler is the Charles R. Walgreen Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics at the University of Chicago's Booth School of Business. He is the author of several books, including Nudge: The Final Edition and Misbehaving: The Making Of Behavioral Economics.Next, you'll hear from cognitive scientist Maya Shankar about how reading Nudge led her to work in the White House. She served as a senior advisor in the federal government where she founded the White House Social and Behavioral Sciences Team. She's also the creator, host, and executive producer of the award-winning podcast A Slight Change of Plans.Finally, Katy discusses ways you can incorporate nudges in your own life to help you make better decisions. Choiceology is an original podcast from Charles Schwab. For more on the series, visit schwab.com/podcast.If you enjoy the show, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating or review on Apple Podcasts. Important DisclosuresAll expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market conditions.The comments, views, and opinions expressed in the presentation are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views of Charles Schwab. Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed.The policy analysis provided by the Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., does not constitute and should not be interpreted as an endorsement of any political party.Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.The book, How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be, is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (CS&Co.). Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (CS&Co.) has not reviewed the book and makes no representations about its content.Apple Podcasts and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.Google Podcasts and the Google Podcasts logo are trademarks of Google LLC.Spotify and the Spotify logo are registered trademarks of Spotify AB.(0422-2A4K)

Sam Harris and Cass Sunstein discuss habituation to positive and negative experiences, marriage, happiness, midlife crises, kids, wealth, misinformation and social media, echo chambers, extremism, free speech on college campuses, and the 2024 Presidential election.

Dr. Cass Sunstein, former White House administrator, joins Annie Duke to discuss noise in decision-making, the impact of group polarization, and how nudges influence our choices without us realizing it. They explore the challenges faced by politicians, the significance of decision hygiene in reducing biases, and the concept of default choices. They also introduce a decision-making tool for the future generation and express gratitude for discussing decision-making and regulation.

Prof. Cass Sunstein, founder of the Program on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy at Harvard Law School, discusses decision-making. Topics include second-order thinking, delegation vs algorithms, transformative decisions, preferences for seeking information, biases in belief updating, maximizing well-being, and the differences between manipulation and nudges.

Richard Thaler, economista Nobel y pionero en teoría del comportamiento, y Cass Sunstein, jurista y académico influyente, discuten cómo nuestras decisiones están moldeadas por la presentación de opciones. Revelan cómo gobiernos, empresas y otros pueden actuar como 'arquitectos de la elección' para mejorar decisiones en salud, finanzas y educación. Enfatizan el uso de 'empujones' para guiar elecciones más informadas y reflexionan sobre la importancia de la lectura para emprender, destacando cómo los pequeños cambios pueden tener grandes impactos en la sociedad.

Cass Sunstein, a Harvard Law professor and co-author of the bestseller 'Nudge,' discusses the intricate balance between freedom of choice and behavioral influence. He explains how nudges can guide decisions in public policy and business, but warns of potential manipulation through dark patterns in marketing. Sunstein also highlights the impact of misinformation, detailing the illusory truth effect and emphasizing the importance of ethical decision-making in an era where repetition makes falsehoods believable.

Renowned behavioral economist Cass Sunstein discusses fame, skill vs. luck, Bach vs. Taylor Swift as the greatest composer, social influences on fame, business implications, and the art of manipulating information and reputation cascades.

Sam Harris and Cass Sunstein delve into habituation, happiness, misinformation, and societal issues like free speech. They explore the impact of habituation on relationships, midlife crises, and the importance of variety in life. Discussions also cover the power of noticing, combating misinformation, and challenges to free speech on college campuses.

The podcast discusses how habits influence behavior and the power of breaking routines for a more fulfilling life. Topics include habituation to horrible things, the importance of breaks in routines, gratitude and conservatism in happiness, dishonesty escalation from habituation, illusory truth effect on social media, Trump's attention pursuit, and navigating reality in the digital age.

Cass Sunstein, co-author of 'Nudge' and a leading legal scholar, explores the surprising nature of social change. He discusses how movements like #MeToo and the Arab Spring emerge from seemingly resistant contexts. Delving into concepts like preference falsification and group polarization, he explains that hidden opinions and variable thresholds can trigger abrupt shifts. Sunstein emphasizes the importance of open dialogue, social media's role, and the complex dynamics that shape collective action, making activism feel more hopeful and compelling.