Discussion paper

DP13299 Information Nudges and Self-Control

We study the optimal design of information nudges for present-biased consumers who have to make sequential consumption decisions without exact prior knowledge of their long-term consequences. For arbitrary distributions of risk, there exists a consumer-optimal information nudge that is of cutoff type, recommending consumption or abstinence according to the magnitude of the risk. Under a stronger bias for the present, the target group receiving a credible signal to abstain must be tightened. We compare this nudge with those favored by a health authority or a lobbyist. When some consumers are more strongly present-biased than others, a traffic-light nudge is optimal.

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Citation

Mariotti, T (2018), ‘DP13299 Information Nudges and Self-Control‘, CEPR Discussion Paper No. 13299. CEPR Press, Paris & London. https://cepr.org/publications/dp13299