Single correct option
Behavioural economists have popularized the "nudge" — a small change in how choices are presented, such as making retirement savings the default option rather than something employees must actively opt into, which measurably increases participation without restricting anyone's freedom to opt out. Critics worry that nudges are paternalistic, quietly steering people's decisions using knowledge of their cognitive biases rather than persuading them through open argument. Defenders respond that some default is unavoidable in any system — a form must be designed one way or another — so the real choice is not between neutral and manipulative defaults but between defaults that happen to serve people's own stated long-term interests and those that don't.
Which of the following best captures the central point of the passage?
Which of the following best captures the central point of the passage?
- A. Nudges are a form of illegal manipulation that should be banned from public policy.
- B. Since some default option is unavoidable in any choice architecture, the real debate over nudges is about whether defaults are set to serve people's own long-term interests, not whether defaults should exist at all.
- C. Retirement savings rates have not changed regardless of whether enrollment is opt-in or opt-out.
- D. Behavioural economics has no practical applications outside of academic research.
Show answer and solution
Answer: (B) Since some default option is unavoidable in any choice architecture, the real debate over nudges is about whether defaults are set to serve people's own long-term interests, not whether defaults should exist at all.
The passage's defenders' argument — that some default is unavoidable, so the real question is which interests defaults serve — is presented as the resolving insight of the paragraph, matching option 1. Option 0 mischaracterizes the passage's balanced tone as an outright condemnation; options 2 and 3 contradict or are unrelated to the text.
Saved on this device. Sign in or create a free account to keep it on every device.