Comments on: Richard Thaler at the RSA http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/07/17/richard-thaler-at-rsa/ How do people use products, systems and environments? How can designers influence interaction? How can we design for sustainable behaviour? Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:30:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Dan http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/07/17/richard-thaler-at-rsa/#comment-220715 Dan Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:29:22 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/?p=341#comment-220715 The <a href="http://www.thersa.org/about-us/matthews-blog/archives/july-2008/nudge-fever" rel="nofollow">RSA's Matthew Taylor has some perceptively sceptical commentary on applying 'Nudge'-type policy ideas in practice</a>: <blockquote>In an echo of the strange world of quantum mechanics the moment a policy is implemented it changes the context for which the policy was devised and is therefore bound to produce unexpected and sometimes perverse outcomes. To end with another issue with incentives; if everyone takes up the scheme they quickly come to see the ‘reward’ as an entitlement. And if they then are refused the reward because they fail to recycle they see this as a punishment. In other words, if the policy of rewarding is too successful is comes to feel like the policy of fining it was supposed to replace! ... Changing behaviour is hard. Nudging is a useful technique but it doesn’t abolish the classic dilemmas of policy making.</blockquote> The RSA’s Matthew Taylor has some perceptively sceptical commentary on applying ‘Nudge’-type policy ideas in practice:

In an echo of the strange world of quantum mechanics the moment a policy is implemented it changes the context for which the policy was devised and is therefore bound to produce unexpected and sometimes perverse outcomes.

To end with another issue with incentives; if everyone takes up the scheme they quickly come to see the ‘reward’ as an entitlement. And if they then are refused the reward because they fail to recycle they see this as a punishment. In other words, if the policy of rewarding is too successful is comes to feel like the policy of fining it was supposed to replace!

…

Changing behaviour is hard. Nudging is a useful technique but it doesn’t abolish the classic dilemmas of policy making.

]]> By: None of 3 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/07/17/richard-thaler-at-rsa/#comment-218175 None of 3 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 16:26:13 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/?p=341#comment-218175 It's not naturally scarce. The marginal cost of reproduction of a book (if reproduced electronically) is basically zero. Where can it be had at marginal cost, without paying monopoly rents? It’s not naturally scarce. The marginal cost of reproduction of a book (if reproduced electronically) is basically zero. Where can it be had at marginal cost, without paying monopoly rents?

]]> By: Dan http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/07/17/richard-thaler-at-rsa/#comment-217816 Dan Sun, 20 Jul 2008 20:52:16 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/?p=341#comment-217816 By 'available online' I meant that it was possible to purchase a copy from an online bookseller that, when it arrived, was not actually a retail version. I did pay for it. By ‘available online’ I meant that it was possible to purchase a copy from an online bookseller that, when it arrived, was not actually a retail version. I did pay for it.

]]> By: None of 3 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/2008/07/17/richard-thaler-at-rsa/#comment-217172 None of 3 Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:59:23 +0000 http://architectures.danlockton.co.uk/?p=341#comment-217172 Where are some of these online copies of Nudge? The links I've seen around here all seem to lead to only one option: pay money to have a printed copy. Where are some of these online copies of Nudge? The links I’ve seen around here all seem to lead to only one option: pay money to have a printed copy.

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