From the list below, what is the best example of a behavioural nudge?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

To begin, let's restate the task: identify the best example of a behavioural nudge from the given options.
Option a: A subsidy (money from the government), paid to consumers of education. This is a financial incentive or support rather than a subtle push in the environment to influence behavior. Subsidies are more about reducing barriers or altering costs, but they are not typically framed as a simple behavioural nudge embedded in everyday choices.
Option b: A financial penalty (fine) for leaving rubbish in a public space. This is a punitive measure aimed at deterrence, not a light touch that subtly guides behavior. Penalties are strong disincentives and do not fit the classic nudging approach, which tends to preserve freedom of choice while steering decisions.
Option c: Placing healthy food at eye level on supermarket shelves. This is a classic behavioural nudge: it subtly alters the choice architecture to make the healthier option more salient and easier to choose without restricting options or imposing sanctions. It leverages cognitive ease and visibility to steer behavior toward a desired outcome.
Option d: A tax added to the price of petrol. Like subsidies and penalties, a tax is a policy lever that changes costs directly and is heavier-handed than a nudge. It alters incentives more aggressively and is not the soft, non-coercive adjustment typical of nudges.
In summary, option c aligns with the concept of behavioural nudges by restructuring the environment to make the preferred (healthier) choice easier to pick, while options a, b, and d function more as fiscal instruments or penalties rather than subtle, choice-preserving prompts.

MUF0061 Economics Unit 1 - Semester 2, 2025 Revision Quiz - Incentives and Behavioural Economics (8 - 10 minutes)

From the list below, what is the best example of a behavioural nudge?

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