Stephen Dubner

As for the word itself, the way we're talking about it today, who pioneered the use of the word sludge in this context? Are you laying claim to having invented that?

As for the word itself, the way we're talking about it today, who pioneered the use of the word sludge in this context? Are you laying claim to having invented that?

As for the word itself, the way we're talking about it today, who pioneered the use of the word sludge in this context? Are you laying claim to having invented that?

Let me intrude here for just a second to say that Thaler, compared to his fellow academic economists, is a bit unusual. He is plenty smart. He has a Nobel Prize, for instance, but he also engages with the real world in a way that many academics don't. Even in very serious matters, he manages to bring the fun. Some years back, I spent one of the most enjoyable afternoons of my life with Thaler.

Let me intrude here for just a second to say that Thaler, compared to his fellow academic economists, is a bit unusual. He is plenty smart. He has a Nobel Prize, for instance, but he also engages with the real world in a way that many academics don't. Even in very serious matters, he manages to bring the fun. Some years back, I spent one of the most enjoyable afternoons of my life with Thaler.

Let me intrude here for just a second to say that Thaler, compared to his fellow academic economists, is a bit unusual. He is plenty smart. He has a Nobel Prize, for instance, but he also engages with the real world in a way that many academics don't. Even in very serious matters, he manages to bring the fun. Some years back, I spent one of the most enjoyable afternoons of my life with Thaler.

We both happened to be in London for work, and he had been asked to visit a few cabinet ministers to discuss how they might employ nudge strategies. So he suggested I come along. As we went from ministry to ministry, he'd say, hey, you're getting two for the price of one today, nudge and for economics.

We both happened to be in London for work, and he had been asked to visit a few cabinet ministers to discuss how they might employ nudge strategies. So he suggested I come along. As we went from ministry to ministry, he'd say, hey, you're getting two for the price of one today, nudge and for economics.

We both happened to be in London for work, and he had been asked to visit a few cabinet ministers to discuss how they might employ nudge strategies. So he suggested I come along. As we went from ministry to ministry, he'd say, hey, you're getting two for the price of one today, nudge and for economics.

And he proceeded to dispense nudgy advice about tax forms and how to get more people to insulate their attics, all of which left the ministers pleased and enthused. Thaler has a can-do spirit, and this applies even to the challenge of eradicating sludge. So I asked him to start by giving a general description of the problem and whether most sludge is intentional, accidental, avoidable, or what.

And he proceeded to dispense nudgy advice about tax forms and how to get more people to insulate their attics, all of which left the ministers pleased and enthused. Thaler has a can-do spirit, and this applies even to the challenge of eradicating sludge. So I asked him to start by giving a general description of the problem and whether most sludge is intentional, accidental, avoidable, or what.

And he proceeded to dispense nudgy advice about tax forms and how to get more people to insulate their attics, all of which left the ministers pleased and enthused. Thaler has a can-do spirit, and this applies even to the challenge of eradicating sludge. So I asked him to start by giving a general description of the problem and whether most sludge is intentional, accidental, avoidable, or what.

Don Norman is a design scholar who is willing to point out bad design, including what are now called, in his honor, Norman doors.

Don Norman is a design scholar who is willing to point out bad design, including what are now called, in his honor, Norman doors.

Don Norman is a design scholar who is willing to point out bad design, including what are now called, in his honor, Norman doors.

Okay, so that's an example of physical sludge. Give me a nice example of a more virtual or representative sludge.

Okay, so that's an example of physical sludge. Give me a nice example of a more virtual or representative sludge.

Okay, so that's an example of physical sludge. Give me a nice example of a more virtual or representative sludge.

In cases like that, how intentional and or strategic is it? Is that the firm making it harder to, in this case, cancel because canceling means less money and they're trying to profit maximize by essentially not letting you cancel? Is that what it's about or is it more incompetence or is it something else?

In cases like that, how intentional and or strategic is it? Is that the firm making it harder to, in this case, cancel because canceling means less money and they're trying to profit maximize by essentially not letting you cancel? Is that what it's about or is it more incompetence or is it something else?