Nudges and Well-Being

Catalog description

Why do we sometimes make decisions that we come to regret and, hence, fail to reach a certain level of happiness and well-being? What is well-being? What are the biases that influence our decisions? If we cannot make the right decisions for ourselves, who can? How can cognitive and behavioral science, with the help of nudges, inform policy-making? What philosophical and legal issues may arise from governmental interventions in decision-making in general? Scientific research has demonstrated that decisions are often a result of heuristics, mental shortcuts, and irrational influences that lead us to make suboptimal choices. As a result, governments and scientists have intervened to enhance individuals' and societies' well-being through nudge interventions. This course offers an interdisciplinary and thoughtful look at the topics of well-being, cognitive bias, and the role of institutions in societies. It brings together scholars from different fields to analyze issues ranging from sustainable development, health, and interpersonal relationship, to the need for government intervention and policy-making.