Name: Solving social problems with a nudge
Uploaded: 2010-02-01T08:44:00Z
Duration: 17 min 44 s
Description: MacArthur winner Sendhil Mullainathan uses the lens of behavioral economics to study a tricky set of social problems -- those we know how to solve, but don't. We know how to reduce child deaths due to diarrhea, how to prevent diabetes-related blindness and how to implement solar-cell technology ... yet somehow, we don't or can't. Why?

MacArthur winner Sendhil Mullainathan uses the lens of behavioral economics to study a tricky set of social problems -- those we know how to solve, but don't. We know how to reduce child deaths due to diarrhea, how to prevent diabetes-related blindness and how to implement solar-cell technology ... yet somehow, we don't or can't. Why?

Solving social problems with a nudge

Solving big social problems like child mortality or energy waste often hits a stubborn roadblock: human behavior. Even when life-saving tools such as oral rehydration salts are widely accessible, preventable deaths persist due to ingrained beliefs and habits. Deeply held mental models, like the idea that fluids worsen diarrhea, can override scientific facts. The real challenge is not just inventing solutions but ensuring people actually use them.