Comments on: Assorted links http://nudges.org/2009/10/27/assorted-links-16/ Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness Thu, 09 Sep 2010 08:51:01 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: holmegm http://nudges.org/2009/10/27/assorted-links-16/#comment-800 holmegm Wed, 04 Nov 2009 18:43:05 +0000 http://nudges.wordpress.com/?p=2884#comment-800 The dialtone thing could actually be useful ... do I have a signal? Is the phone going to start dialing when I have pressed enough numbers, or do I still have to press Send (some phones I have used in the past could be in either mode at any given time, depending on whether I had already pressed Send)? The dialtone could be a useful shorthand signal. The dialtone thing could actually be useful … do I have a signal? Is the phone going to start dialing when I have pressed enough numbers, or do I still have to press Send (some phones I have used in the past could be in either mode at any given time, depending on whether I had already pressed Send)?

The dialtone could be a useful shorthand signal.

]]> By: Miles http://nudges.org/2009/10/27/assorted-links-16/#comment-799 Miles Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:48:08 +0000 http://nudges.wordpress.com/?p=2884#comment-799 BMI -- wow, that is *incredibly* stupid. BMI was designed to look at populations as a whole, and is not useful in the slightest when evaluating an individual. For instance, as a 6'1 205lb, with a 34 inch waist, noone would pick me out of a line up for being overweight, yet, I'm nearly obese according to BMI. BMI indicates I'd be better off sitting on the couch letting muscle change to (lighter) fat than my current exercise regimen. BMI — wow, that is *incredibly* stupid. BMI was designed to look at populations as a whole, and is not useful in the slightest when evaluating an individual. For instance, as a 6’1 205lb, with a 34 inch waist, noone would pick me out of a line up for being overweight, yet, I’m nearly obese according to BMI. BMI indicates I’d be better off sitting on the couch letting muscle change to (lighter) fat than my current exercise regimen.

]]> By: Jack Jesmer http://nudges.org/2009/10/27/assorted-links-16/#comment-798 Jack Jesmer Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:51:28 +0000 http://nudges.wordpress.com/?p=2884#comment-798 With regards to the 'fat nudge', it would appear that the employer tactic of taxing body fat is perhaps more of a shove than a nudge. Thaler and Sunstein indicate that a nudge must not 'significantly change economic incentives...and must be cheap and easy to avoid'. The employer is doing both. My guess is that this action is more of an attempt at nudging less employer money towards benefits than any benevolent health related nudge. Perhaps we should also tax intelect, or lack there of... With regards to the ‘fat nudge’, it would appear that the employer tactic of taxing body fat is perhaps more of a shove than a nudge. Thaler and Sunstein indicate that a nudge must not ‘significantly change economic incentives…and must be cheap and easy to avoid’. The employer is doing both. My guess is that this action is more of an attempt at nudging less employer money towards benefits than any benevolent health related nudge.

Perhaps we should also tax intelect, or lack there of…

]]> By: Jason Bade http://nudges.org/2009/10/27/assorted-links-16/#comment-797 Jason Bade Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:54:28 +0000 http://nudges.wordpress.com/?p=2884#comment-797 With regard to nudging recycling, how about branding "garbage" cans differently? As "garbage" implies all types of refuse (bottles and cans included), maybe we should label our cans "Non-recyclables only" with the "recyclables" can right next to it. With regard to nudging recycling, how about branding “garbage” cans differently? As “garbage” implies all types of refuse (bottles and cans included), maybe we should label our cans “Non-recyclables only” with the “recyclables” can right next to it.

]]>