Nudges, Regulations and Liberty

Abstract Nudge advocates contend that nudges are liberty preserving, while government regulations not. We interrogate assumption by considering negative in the forms suggested proponents of nudges. Specifically, we examine three ways measuring – as freedom choice, absence coercion and interference applying measures to a case study relevant nudge literature: governing healthy food manufacture. show that, depending on measure adopted estimated impact producer consumer behaviour, some can be reducing, others preserving or enhancing. When it comes comparing more traditional policies aimed at increasing health welfare citizens, there is no priori ground for preferring