Nudge Policies in COVID-19 Context: A Necessary Action or Ethical Dilemma?

ABSTRACT Objective: the aim of this study is to discuss nudges in the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic context, bringing back some reflections on ethics and revising them in the light of the new setting imposed by the pandemic. Theoretical approach: the theoretical framework of Behavioral Economics was the basis for nudges’ analysis, while utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics were the classic moral theories used to reflect on ethical aspects. Methods: we undertook a literature review about nudges searched through the latest studies about this subject applied to COVID-19 mitigation. In the ethical discussion section, we used classical references to articulate the nudge theory with the following moral theories: utilitarianism, deontology, and virtue ethics. Results: our findings indicate that the trend intervention during the pandemic is ‘nudging messages’ and ‘increase people’s commitment,’ mainly to nudge people toward the desired behavior and increase policy adherence. Many experiments did not show significant results, and some drawbacks in policies’ applications indicate that nudges might be revised in crisis scenarios, such as a pandemic outbreak. The ethical discussion section relates three moral theories that justify some of the nudge’s aspects. Conclusions: this paper showed some flaws and inconsistencies in nudge theory and its application during the pandemic that can be solved by discussing ethical aspects. We suggest that connecting these problems with moral views might be a solution for some deadlocks found in the nudge theory.

摘要 研究目的：本研究旨在探讨新型冠状病毒（SARS-CoV-2）大流行背景下的助推干预（nudges），回溯有关伦理的相关思考，并结合大流行带来的全新情境对其进行修订。理论基础：本研究以行为经济学理论框架作为助推干预分析的依据，并采用功利主义、义务论与美德伦理学三大经典道德理论，对伦理层面的相关问题展开思考。研究方法：本研究针对助推干预展开文献综述，检索了该领域应用于新冠疫情（COVID-19）防控的最新研究成果。在伦理讨论部分，本研究依托经典文献，将助推理论与前述三大道德理论进行结合阐释。研究结果：本研究发现，大流行期间的主流干预手段为“助推式信息推送”与“提升公众参与度”，其核心目标在于引导公众采取预期行为、提升政策依从性。部分相关实验未呈现显著效果，且政策应用中存在若干缺陷，这表明在疫情暴发这类危机场景中，助推干预模式有待进一步修订。伦理讨论部分阐释了三大道德理论可为助推干预的部分维度提供合理性支撑。研究结论：本研究揭示了助推理论及其在大流行期间应用存在的若干缺陷与矛盾，而通过伦理层面的探讨可有效解决这些问题。本研究提出，将上述问题与道德视角相结合，或可破解助推理论现存的若干理论僵局。