A nudge in the right direction

From preventing simple traffic violations to curbing rampant corruption, ensuring compliance with the rule of law in Lebanon is a serious challenge for policymakers. Heavy-handed controls often do not work, as they rely on individuals making rational decisions, and financial incentives are not sustainable in the long-run. What else can the government do to improve compliance and promote a rule-of-law culture? Part of the answer lies in a concept known as nudging: using cost-effective policy tools to steer people in the right direction by making small changes in the environment, without restricting their freedom of choice. Effective nudges include placing healthy food items at eye level in cafeterias to increase healthy eating habits, telling households about their neighbor’s energy-consumption levels to encourage them to reduce their own consumption, or texting parents about their children’s progress in school to engage them in their kids’ academic performance. The trick to getting people