> This meta-analytic finding turns on the authors’ method for measuring publication bias. Because I accept that, I must believe that this entire body of research, probably the signal behavioral economics work, is essentially worthless!
I strongly disagree with this statement, even as someone who believes “nudge” effects are wildly overblown.
It means “these studies failed to find evidence” - NOT that there is nothing to find.
The distinction is important because, as it turns out, the policies that the research influenced did work, in many cases. 401k contributions did go up, in many cases. More people became organ donors. More Europeans got stronger privacy protections.
“The power of defaults” is such a cliche because, in many cases, it works.
The problem with these studies is overstating the effect - not spewing worthless BS.
I strongly disagree with this statement, even as someone who believes “nudge” effects are wildly overblown.
It means “these studies failed to find evidence” - NOT that there is nothing to find.
The distinction is important because, as it turns out, the policies that the research influenced did work, in many cases. 401k contributions did go up, in many cases. More people became organ donors. More Europeans got stronger privacy protections.
“The power of defaults” is such a cliche because, in many cases, it works.
The problem with these studies is overstating the effect - not spewing worthless BS.