Nudge Theory: Behavioural Economics Insights and the Libertarian Paternalism

This paper wants to focus on the definition of nudges and their application in public policies, with a critical analysis of the Paternalism question. Of particular interest, the concept of Libertarian Paternalism, coined by the nudge theory’s precursors Thaler and Sunstein, will take an important role in this work, as it will help to drive accurate conclusions concerning the paternalistic aspects of nudges. This work’s purpose is to find out if nudges really preserve individuals’ freedom of choice, or if they violate people’s deliberative autonomy, making them victim of the choice architecture.