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Sludge: What Stops Us from Getting Things Done and What to Do About It
How we became so burdened by red tape and unnecessary paperwork, and why we must do better.
We've all had to fight our way through administrative sludge--filling out complicated online forms, mailing in paperwork, standing in line at the motor vehicle registry. This kind of red tape is a nuisance, but, as Cass Sunstein shows in Sludge, it can also also impair health, reduce growth, entrench poverty, and exacerbate inequality. Confronted by sludge, people just give up--and lose a promised outcome: a visa, a job, a permit, an educational opportunity, necessary medical help. In this lively and entertaining look at the terribleness of sludge, Sunstein explains what we can do to reduce it.
Because of sludge, Sunstein, explains, too many people don't receive benefits to which they are entitled. Sludge even prevents many people from exercising their constitutional rights--when, for example, barriers to voting in an election are too high. (A Sludge Reduction Act would be a Voting Rights Act.) Sunstein takes readers on a tour of the not-so-wonderful world of sludge, describes justifications for certain kinds of sludge, and proposes Sludge Audits as a way to measure effects of sludge. On balance, Sunstein argues, sludge infringes on human dignity, making people feel that their time and even their lives don't matter. We must do better.
We've all had to fight our way through administrative sludge--filling out complicated online forms, mailing in paperwork, standing in line at the motor vehicle registry. This kind of red tape is a nuisance, but, as Cass Sunstein shows in Sludge, it can also also impair health, reduce growth, entrench poverty, and exacerbate inequality. Confronted by sludge, people just give up--and lose a promised outcome: a visa, a job, a permit, an educational opportunity, necessary medical help. In this lively and entertaining look at the terribleness of sludge, Sunstein explains what we can do to reduce it.
Because of sludge, Sunstein, explains, too many people don't receive benefits to which they are entitled. Sludge even prevents many people from exercising their constitutional rights--when, for example, barriers to voting in an election are too high. (A Sludge Reduction Act would be a Voting Rights Act.) Sunstein takes readers on a tour of the not-so-wonderful world of sludge, describes justifications for certain kinds of sludge, and proposes Sludge Audits as a way to measure effects of sludge. On balance, Sunstein argues, sludge infringes on human dignity, making people feel that their time and even their lives don't matter. We must do better.
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Published March 22, 2022
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About the author
Cass R. Sunstein
166 books731 followersCass R. Sunstein is an American legal scholar, particularly in the fields of constitutional law, administrative law, environmental law, and law and behavioral economics, who currently is the Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Obama administration. For 27 years, Sunstein taught at the University of Chicago Law School, where he continues to teach as the Harry Kalven Visiting Professor. Sunstein is currently Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, where he is on leave while working in the Obama administration.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 4, 2021
If a nudge can push you to making a decision, sludge stops decision making in its tracks. Lots of examples of ways in which the structure of programs, forms, laws, and policies can act too stop people from taking action to improve their lives, sticking them in a less than optimal place. Much of Sunstein's examples are drawn from his time in the Obama administration, although he does branch out into private examples too. He goes deep into law and policy at points, but even the examples of all the ways the sludge can act to prevent people from doing helpful things is enlightening. The only downside is when he gets to his prescriptions which often involve wonky policy changes and/or Congressional action to make it easier for Americans to access and take advantage of government programs. In this age of bad faith governance and politicians who do not want more people in programs like Medicaid, Sunstein's actions have little to no chance of taking effect nationwide at either the Federal and State level. And that is just depressing.
**Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
**Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 8, 2021
Cass Sunstein has a knack for direct images. He and Richard Thaler scored big with Nudge, which has entered the lexicon. It doesn’t get much more successful than that. Now he is publishing Sludge, based largely on his experience running OIRA, the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs for the Obama administration. Where nudges are positive tools used for social good, sludge is a damaging and unnecessary burden, of no lasting value.
It makes for a very short book, but it packs a visceral punch. It speaks directly to everyone, clearly and economically. It is a very fast read.
Everyone experiences sludge. No one besides its creators likes it, but it just grows and grows. It now accounts for 11.4 billion hours a year, just for federal reporting by Americans. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics figures, Sunstein estimates that costs them $308 billion a year in time they could have spent on themselves.
Sludge is not limited to idiot paperwork. It can be mandatory interviews 60 miles from home, research to provide backup for claims, licenses just to perform a job, standing in endless lines for endless hours, or on hold equally annoyingly. He even includes two-factor logins as annoying sludge. It is something we invented; we do it to ourselves. Undoing it was Sunstein’s job in Washington. He does not claim to have succeeded.
Prior restraint is also sludge: forcing people to obtain permission to do what they do naturally in the course of their lives, like speaking out or protesting. A ban on prior restraint would really be a ban on sludge, he says.
Eliminating sludge transforms people into rightsholders instead of supplicants, he says. It is a whole different ethos that would be nice to experience some time.
It pops up in the weirdest places. Hospitals notoriously require endless paperwork, often, if not usually identical, but all for different offices. Photocopying will not do. During the pandemic, vaccines were miraculously free of sludge requirements. Yet COVID-19 tests (still) require a prescription from a doctor, which might mean phoning, going to an appointment, paperwork and co-pays. For what, one might ask. Sludge.
The scam of sludge for job licenses has really gone too far. Various states have various licenses for various jobs. It serves only to delay employment and put workers in further debt. The average coursework for an occupational license stands at 248 hours. For lower paying jobs, requirements can add up to a year of experience and coursework before licensing. Sunstein says an interior designer needs 2190 days, a primary schoolteacher 2050, a shampooer 248 days, a tree trimmer, 574. Plus fees of course. Cosmetologists in South Dakota might need as many as 16 forms to get licensed. Thinking of moving to another state? Go back to Go, do not collect $200.
Even private firms push sludge, making it difficult to get their products repaired or replaced under warranty. Endless calls to customer support end badly far too often. And so people give up. It’s not worth their time, their increase in blood pressure or their attention. And clearly, someone out there is counting on that. Lots of someones know they can beat back their customers and get away with it.
Government, however, takes the cake. The sick, the poor and the disadvantaged pay the highest price. They might simply be unable to make that interview three towns away. They might not have computer skills to know the form submitting with attachments game because they don’t own a computer. They can’t take the time off work, or stop caring for a family member. The result is far too many of the neediest not participating in programs designed to help them.
States are infamous for adding sludge to applications for SNAP/food stamps. They add proof of work requirements, proof of citizenship, proof of domicile and more. Medicaid, specifically designed for the poorest and the out of work, often requires proof of employment now. Or documented job interviews.
Just generally, only 10 to 40 percent of potential beneficiaries follow through all the way. Even for cash, like a product rebate, the same pathetic numbers apply. It’s just not worth the hassle, the wait, the followup phone calls and so on. Companies get to keep the money; they forecast it. This scenario even has a name: inertia.
Not to put too fine a point on it, Sunstein cites studies that show a nine to ten point increase in IQ when people have plentiful cash and aren’t stressed by sludge.
On the plus side, he points to Social Security, which has made it its business to know who applicants are. Social Security numbers follow people throughout life and the country, so the federal government always knows its commitment. No need for back tax reports or a curriculum vitae, with copies of pay stubs going back 40 years. It can process applicants in a phone call, and add Medicare coverage at the same time. So it is possible to live without or with minimal sludge.
Some sludge is just plain mean. Asking for data they already have, refusing to allow online submissions and then refusing to prepopulate forms with the data they already have, and demanding quarterly reporting instead of annually are a few ways Sunstein says government in particular has of being annoying. Studies show that simply reducing the sludge brings huge improvements in response. Just sayin’.
Currently, my personal most annoying sludge is online address forms. The moment you input your postal code, they know precisely your city, county, state and country. There is absolutely no reason why anyone should have type all that into boxes, or scroll through all the stupid dropdowns. They could populate the form themselves, instead of delaying the sale with this nonsense. Useless sludge.
At several points, Sunstein tries to show examples where sludge might be beneficial. Delays in granting divorce or for abortions figure prominently. And government wants to be absolutely sure money is going to a worthy person. And so on. He says this is okay as far it goes (which is not very far, as better options exist), but he is still firmly on the reduced sludge side. Basically, “Sludge works as a penalty; it makes everything worse.”
And when life is as complicated as it has become in modern society, that is saying a lot.
David Wineberg
It makes for a very short book, but it packs a visceral punch. It speaks directly to everyone, clearly and economically. It is a very fast read.
Everyone experiences sludge. No one besides its creators likes it, but it just grows and grows. It now accounts for 11.4 billion hours a year, just for federal reporting by Americans. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics figures, Sunstein estimates that costs them $308 billion a year in time they could have spent on themselves.
Sludge is not limited to idiot paperwork. It can be mandatory interviews 60 miles from home, research to provide backup for claims, licenses just to perform a job, standing in endless lines for endless hours, or on hold equally annoyingly. He even includes two-factor logins as annoying sludge. It is something we invented; we do it to ourselves. Undoing it was Sunstein’s job in Washington. He does not claim to have succeeded.
Prior restraint is also sludge: forcing people to obtain permission to do what they do naturally in the course of their lives, like speaking out or protesting. A ban on prior restraint would really be a ban on sludge, he says.
Eliminating sludge transforms people into rightsholders instead of supplicants, he says. It is a whole different ethos that would be nice to experience some time.
It pops up in the weirdest places. Hospitals notoriously require endless paperwork, often, if not usually identical, but all for different offices. Photocopying will not do. During the pandemic, vaccines were miraculously free of sludge requirements. Yet COVID-19 tests (still) require a prescription from a doctor, which might mean phoning, going to an appointment, paperwork and co-pays. For what, one might ask. Sludge.
The scam of sludge for job licenses has really gone too far. Various states have various licenses for various jobs. It serves only to delay employment and put workers in further debt. The average coursework for an occupational license stands at 248 hours. For lower paying jobs, requirements can add up to a year of experience and coursework before licensing. Sunstein says an interior designer needs 2190 days, a primary schoolteacher 2050, a shampooer 248 days, a tree trimmer, 574. Plus fees of course. Cosmetologists in South Dakota might need as many as 16 forms to get licensed. Thinking of moving to another state? Go back to Go, do not collect $200.
Even private firms push sludge, making it difficult to get their products repaired or replaced under warranty. Endless calls to customer support end badly far too often. And so people give up. It’s not worth their time, their increase in blood pressure or their attention. And clearly, someone out there is counting on that. Lots of someones know they can beat back their customers and get away with it.
Government, however, takes the cake. The sick, the poor and the disadvantaged pay the highest price. They might simply be unable to make that interview three towns away. They might not have computer skills to know the form submitting with attachments game because they don’t own a computer. They can’t take the time off work, or stop caring for a family member. The result is far too many of the neediest not participating in programs designed to help them.
States are infamous for adding sludge to applications for SNAP/food stamps. They add proof of work requirements, proof of citizenship, proof of domicile and more. Medicaid, specifically designed for the poorest and the out of work, often requires proof of employment now. Or documented job interviews.
Just generally, only 10 to 40 percent of potential beneficiaries follow through all the way. Even for cash, like a product rebate, the same pathetic numbers apply. It’s just not worth the hassle, the wait, the followup phone calls and so on. Companies get to keep the money; they forecast it. This scenario even has a name: inertia.
Not to put too fine a point on it, Sunstein cites studies that show a nine to ten point increase in IQ when people have plentiful cash and aren’t stressed by sludge.
On the plus side, he points to Social Security, which has made it its business to know who applicants are. Social Security numbers follow people throughout life and the country, so the federal government always knows its commitment. No need for back tax reports or a curriculum vitae, with copies of pay stubs going back 40 years. It can process applicants in a phone call, and add Medicare coverage at the same time. So it is possible to live without or with minimal sludge.
Some sludge is just plain mean. Asking for data they already have, refusing to allow online submissions and then refusing to prepopulate forms with the data they already have, and demanding quarterly reporting instead of annually are a few ways Sunstein says government in particular has of being annoying. Studies show that simply reducing the sludge brings huge improvements in response. Just sayin’.
Currently, my personal most annoying sludge is online address forms. The moment you input your postal code, they know precisely your city, county, state and country. There is absolutely no reason why anyone should have type all that into boxes, or scroll through all the stupid dropdowns. They could populate the form themselves, instead of delaying the sale with this nonsense. Useless sludge.
At several points, Sunstein tries to show examples where sludge might be beneficial. Delays in granting divorce or for abortions figure prominently. And government wants to be absolutely sure money is going to a worthy person. And so on. He says this is okay as far it goes (which is not very far, as better options exist), but he is still firmly on the reduced sludge side. Basically, “Sludge works as a penalty; it makes everything worse.”
And when life is as complicated as it has become in modern society, that is saying a lot.
David Wineberg
October 20, 2021
الوحل! بهذه الكلمة يمكن ترجمة عنوان الكتاب. والوحل المقصود هنا هو ما يتوجب عليك خوضه واجتيازه لتقديم طلب أو الحصول على وظيفة أو خدمة أو ترخيص مهني وغيره. وهذا يشمل كل الإجراءات البيروقراطية ولا يقتصر عليها. ويتمثل في العالم الورقي والالكتروني على السواء.
يطرح الكاتب هذا المصطلح ويناقش أسبابه ومخاطره وفوائده. كما يشير إلى أهميته وحجة المدافعين عنه، ويوازن بين ذلك وما ينجم عنه من مخاطر ومعاناة، تصيب الضعيف في المجتمع أكثر من الغني والمقتدر.
كتاب جيد صغير الحجم، وعمقه يكمن في الاصطلاح والإشارة إليه، وكان يمكن تلخيصه في مقالٍ متوسط الطول يفي بغرض الكتاب ويلمّ جميع أفكاره.
ختاماً، فلا ريب أنّ المواطن العربي أدرى الناس بهذا الوحل، وأكثر الخلق معاناة فيه.
يطرح الكاتب هذا المصطلح ويناقش أسبابه ومخاطره وفوائده. كما يشير إلى أهميته وحجة المدافعين عنه، ويوازن بين ذلك وما ينجم عنه من مخاطر ومعاناة، تصيب الضعيف في المجتمع أكثر من الغني والمقتدر.
كتاب جيد صغير الحجم، وعمقه يكمن في الاصطلاح والإشارة إليه، وكان يمكن تلخيصه في مقالٍ متوسط الطول يفي بغرض الكتاب ويلمّ جميع أفكاره.
ختاماً، فلا ريب أنّ المواطن العربي أدرى الناس بهذا الوحل، وأكثر الخلق معاناة فيه.
September 21, 2021
In this conceptual book, Cass Sunstein unveils another “hidden” — although omnipresent — social phenomenon: sludge.
Using clean, straightforward language, and citing only the main ideas and results of a few relevant pieces of research to support arguments, this short, well-structured book presents: (i) the author’s definition of the term and the importance of identifying it; (ii) its foundations in human behavioral and cognitive flaws; (iii) its harmful effects on society; (iv) its (exceptional) positive effects and legitimate justifications; and (v) how to reduce or eliminate it by means of “Sludge Audits”.
Following his previous groundbreaking book Nudge (co-authored with Richard Thaler), Sunstein posits that sludge is a phenomenon similar to nudge, though instead of inducing people to act in a predetermined beneficial way without removing options, sludge discourages people from acting to access what would be good for them. It is not an evil nudge, as it does not steer people to choose a predetermined option; the result of sludge is rather on halting people, making them give up.
The approximation of the concept with the good old “bureaucracy” is inevitable, since Sunstein focuses to a great extent on sludge imposed by governments on citizens (obligations to fill out forms, waiting in lines, etc.). But the author makes it clear that sludge is also present in the private sector (ordeals to cancel subscriptions, need to mail companies forms to get cash backs, etc.).
Sunstein compellingly makes the case of combating sludge, since it steals people’s productive time, undermines exercise of rights, harms mostly poor people in need of easier access to social welfare programs, and even favors discrimination against groups.
It is another call for optimization of decisions with promising positive effects on society. It’s interesting to note though, how authors from behavioral economics avoid mentioning that their proposals increase efficiency. Out of the tons of books and papers I’ve read on the matter, not a single one emphasizes or even mentions that the solutions their authors propose could contribute to efficiency. Whether this is a way for them to differentiate themselves from mainstream economists, especially Chicagoans, who seem obsessed by it, or not, it’s an issue for further study…
This is another great book on social sciences that promises to spread a new concept around, and possibly make people aware of the phenomenon and hopefully encourage them to do something about it.
Using clean, straightforward language, and citing only the main ideas and results of a few relevant pieces of research to support arguments, this short, well-structured book presents: (i) the author’s definition of the term and the importance of identifying it; (ii) its foundations in human behavioral and cognitive flaws; (iii) its harmful effects on society; (iv) its (exceptional) positive effects and legitimate justifications; and (v) how to reduce or eliminate it by means of “Sludge Audits”.
Following his previous groundbreaking book Nudge (co-authored with Richard Thaler), Sunstein posits that sludge is a phenomenon similar to nudge, though instead of inducing people to act in a predetermined beneficial way without removing options, sludge discourages people from acting to access what would be good for them. It is not an evil nudge, as it does not steer people to choose a predetermined option; the result of sludge is rather on halting people, making them give up.
The approximation of the concept with the good old “bureaucracy” is inevitable, since Sunstein focuses to a great extent on sludge imposed by governments on citizens (obligations to fill out forms, waiting in lines, etc.). But the author makes it clear that sludge is also present in the private sector (ordeals to cancel subscriptions, need to mail companies forms to get cash backs, etc.).
Sunstein compellingly makes the case of combating sludge, since it steals people’s productive time, undermines exercise of rights, harms mostly poor people in need of easier access to social welfare programs, and even favors discrimination against groups.
It is another call for optimization of decisions with promising positive effects on society. It’s interesting to note though, how authors from behavioral economics avoid mentioning that their proposals increase efficiency. Out of the tons of books and papers I’ve read on the matter, not a single one emphasizes or even mentions that the solutions their authors propose could contribute to efficiency. Whether this is a way for them to differentiate themselves from mainstream economists, especially Chicagoans, who seem obsessed by it, or not, it’s an issue for further study…
This is another great book on social sciences that promises to spread a new concept around, and possibly make people aware of the phenomenon and hopefully encourage them to do something about it.
December 31, 2022
Sunstein makes a book (very short) about the toxic effect introducing additional paperwork and step into any process far more interesting than it has any right to be.
Apparently form filling required by the US government adds an additional 11 billion of hours of time for its citizens at a USD 300 billion plus cost. While this warms the cockles of my nerdy soul it’s impact on the poorest citizens in terms of access to healthcare, support and justice should concern us all. Not to mention what private companies get up to.
Apparently form filling required by the US government adds an additional 11 billion of hours of time for its citizens at a USD 300 billion plus cost. While this warms the cockles of my nerdy soul it’s impact on the poorest citizens in terms of access to healthcare, support and justice should concern us all. Not to mention what private companies get up to.
April 14, 2021
Extremely important topic, and overall well-written. Sludge popularizes the concept of administrative burdens and other government and private sector barriers that make things tougher and less pleasant. Sunstein does a good job of documenting the costs, why we should care, and proposing some potential solutions. (This is a topic I'm generally quite passionate about -- see my 2017 USA Today op-ed on related topics here.)
But this is also the quintessential book that probably should have been a magazine article. (No slight particularly intended in Mr. Sunstein's direction, who's made a dizzying collection of important ideas more accessible through this format; just in general, there's a crucial core that could be captured faster, and then some more-detailed explorations that should either have been fleshed out or cut.)
If you're looking for a quick intro to these topics, Sludge is a great, accessible intro. If administrative burdens and government process are something you're passionate about, I'd instead recommend the far-more-thorough Administrative Burden: Policymaking by Other Means, which Sunstein acknowledges his work owes a great debt to.
Thanks NetGalley for an ARC. (Though boo to MIT Press, which was so obsessed with watermarking and unkind to Kindle readers that this is borderline illegible since the watermark made it into the kindle edition and replaces some of the text. It's clear enough from context what got cut, but c'mon man.)
But this is also the quintessential book that probably should have been a magazine article. (No slight particularly intended in Mr. Sunstein's direction, who's made a dizzying collection of important ideas more accessible through this format; just in general, there's a crucial core that could be captured faster, and then some more-detailed explorations that should either have been fleshed out or cut.)
If you're looking for a quick intro to these topics, Sludge is a great, accessible intro. If administrative burdens and government process are something you're passionate about, I'd instead recommend the far-more-thorough Administrative Burden: Policymaking by Other Means, which Sunstein acknowledges his work owes a great debt to.
Thanks NetGalley for an ARC. (Though boo to MIT Press, which was so obsessed with watermarking and unkind to Kindle readers that this is borderline illegible since the watermark made it into the kindle edition and replaces some of the text. It's clear enough from context what got cut, but c'mon man.)
April 8, 2021
Cass Sunstein's Sludge is a sort of sequel to Nudge that tackles the issue of excessive paperwork, redtape, barriers in contemporary American society. Sunstein's focus is mostly on the sludge, a kind of transaction cost, imposed by government programs on applicants, and how that sludge often prevents those who need those programs most from accessing and benefitting from them. He discusses the different types of sludge and some of the pros and cons.
Overall, Sludge is a clear, short and wonky read that is sometimes repetitive. However, I appreciate Sunstein's serious effort to advocate for curtailing sludge. It often seems that as the American federal government grows and power is centralized that sludge grows with it. The removal of sludge would indeed appear to function as a major boon for Americans and America more broadly. Sunstein has several workable policy initiatives and strategies to accomplish this end, but acknowledges that value-based disagreements will affect individuals' specific positions on specific types of sludge. Thus, Sunstein's Sludge lacks a bit of a central message or vision other than Sludge is usually bad. I agree with this, but it doesn't necessarily identify what sludge is most high yield to remove and who are the proponents of sludge that keep this from being achieved.
*Received Sludge as an ARC through NetGalley.
Overall, Sludge is a clear, short and wonky read that is sometimes repetitive. However, I appreciate Sunstein's serious effort to advocate for curtailing sludge. It often seems that as the American federal government grows and power is centralized that sludge grows with it. The removal of sludge would indeed appear to function as a major boon for Americans and America more broadly. Sunstein has several workable policy initiatives and strategies to accomplish this end, but acknowledges that value-based disagreements will affect individuals' specific positions on specific types of sludge. Thus, Sunstein's Sludge lacks a bit of a central message or vision other than Sludge is usually bad. I agree with this, but it doesn't necessarily identify what sludge is most high yield to remove and who are the proponents of sludge that keep this from being achieved.
*Received Sludge as an ARC through NetGalley.
March 11, 2022
Fantastic concept & I agree that reducing sludge is critical in society as we know it. However, this "book" barely skims the surface. Although well written, the content is reminiscent of a pamphlet providing a very light introduction to the topic. Perhaps that is intentional, as a sludge-reduction strategy. I would have enjoyed seeing concrete strategies for reducing sludge in daily life...not just in mega-programs operated by governments.
May 15, 2022
3.5 out of 5 stars. Does a great job defining Sludge but I’d like to see more concrete suggestions on how to reduce sludge.
May 22, 2024
Ok this topic is GREAT. Super important. I am a big fan of the thesis: sludge, when done unintentionally, causes more harm then good, more burden than justice, and overall is a big problem in governments.
The book too is a short read. It just wasn’t that groundbreaking. It’s an American book and zooms into the US government’s bureaucracy, so if that’s not super interesting, and you are already bought onto the thesis, it won’t be that insightful of a read.
With that being said, I did have a few highlights:
“Where automatic enrolment is not possible or desirable, officials might use an assortment of tools: simplification and plain language; frequent reminders; online, telephone, or in person, help; and welcoming messages to reduce psychological costs.”
“ we need far more information about the benefits of collecting information”
“It is important to appreciate the difference between cost effectiveness and cost benefit analysis”
“ if the President of the United States orders, a reduction in paperwork, burdens, or directs federal agencies to reduce sludge, we would almost certainly see real movement. (A question: how many times has that happened in American history? Answer: never.)”
“ for any particular burden, essential question is whether the government is actually acquiring useful information“
The book too is a short read. It just wasn’t that groundbreaking. It’s an American book and zooms into the US government’s bureaucracy, so if that’s not super interesting, and you are already bought onto the thesis, it won’t be that insightful of a read.
With that being said, I did have a few highlights:
“Where automatic enrolment is not possible or desirable, officials might use an assortment of tools: simplification and plain language; frequent reminders; online, telephone, or in person, help; and welcoming messages to reduce psychological costs.”
“ we need far more information about the benefits of collecting information”
“It is important to appreciate the difference between cost effectiveness and cost benefit analysis”
“ if the President of the United States orders, a reduction in paperwork, burdens, or directs federal agencies to reduce sludge, we would almost certainly see real movement. (A question: how many times has that happened in American history? Answer: never.)”
“ for any particular burden, essential question is whether the government is actually acquiring useful information“
September 16, 2023
不知道是不是錯覺，這本書的資訊量很低
在看完「推力」後，我馬上就把這本書加入書單，而等到要看的時候才發現，這本書就是稍微深入淤泥效應這個名詞，再加上更多一點點的例子
書的介紹上寫著「無論是申請簽證、各項福利補助、就業面試、取得執照證照與必要的醫療救助，甚至是投票，都會看到淤泥效應的存在。符合資格申請的人可能索性放棄申請，但對社會與組織而言，這樣就無法實現這類措施預期的成效。」
很好，你已經認識淤泥效應了，可以去看別本書了
我個人不愛這本書的理由是，淤泥效應大家都知道，但是能真正採取行動、試圖清除淤泥的人真的有限
最重要的是，這本書有點像是從關於淤泥效應的教科書裡擷取出來的，如果對於這個主題沒有超級超級有興趣，看推力就夠啦
在看完「推力」後，我馬上就把這本書加入書單，而等到要看的時候才發現，這本書就是稍微深入淤泥效應這個名詞，再加上更多一點點的例子
書的介紹上寫著「無論是申請簽證、各項福利補助、就業面試、取得執照證照與必要的醫療救助，甚至是投票，都會看到淤泥效應的存在。符合資格申請的人可能索性放棄申請，但對社會與組織而言，這樣就無法實現這類措施預期的成效。」
很好，你已經認識淤泥效應了，可以去看別本書了
我個人不愛這本書的理由是，淤泥效應大家都知道，但是能真正採取行動、試圖清除淤泥的人真的有限
最重要的是，這本書有點像是從關於淤泥效應的教科書裡擷取出來的，如果對於這個主題沒有超級超級有興趣，看推力就夠啦
March 31, 2025
A good (quick) concept book. I appreciated the ideas, but not the specifics as much.
July 14, 2023
Maybe better as a chapter in Nudge rather than a separate book, but a little too government bureaucracy level rather than average joe level of application to daily lives
June 4, 2025
Relevant and makes some good points, but barely skims the surface. This would have made a great magazine article. One expects more from a book.
September 19, 2023
I’ve got mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, it strikes me as a bit of a dud. If you’ve read Nudge, what is contained within this book will strike you as obvious contrapositives to the general tenets contained within it. On the other hand, despite stating obvious problems (a lot of paperwork is bad, especially if you’re poor/busy/etc.), administrative burdens really are a big problem, and it’s cool to see someone with as much academic/policy clout as Sunstein lead this charge.
The book as a whole probably could’ve just been a working paper published online or something. It’s 100-page books like these that I always cite as important caveats to the fact that Cass Sunstein pumps out a new book every half hour.
Sunstein provides a convincing case that sludge is a real issue, and he seems to genuinely believe it himself. But it makes you, as a reader, question why he doesn’t give it a more serious, extended treatment in the form of a full-length book - one that discusses the root causes and effects of sludge and potential mechanisms through which to resolve it.
The book as a whole probably could’ve just been a working paper published online or something. It’s 100-page books like these that I always cite as important caveats to the fact that Cass Sunstein pumps out a new book every half hour.
Sunstein provides a convincing case that sludge is a real issue, and he seems to genuinely believe it himself. But it makes you, as a reader, question why he doesn’t give it a more serious, extended treatment in the form of a full-length book - one that discusses the root causes and effects of sludge and potential mechanisms through which to resolve it.
October 12, 2023
A very dry (but blessedly short) treatise on beurocratic paperwork and waste.
Sunstein makes their points well and keeps it quick, though a bit repetitive.
The proposed idea of "sludge audits" is excellent, I can see how it would be hard to generate much enthusiasm for it.
Being a beurocrat by profession, i can see the desperate need to improve people's lives by cutting down on red tape.
Taxes. Hospital visits. Driver's licences.
So many things that are being streamlined in the modern age. But it's 3 steps forward and 2 steps back, as every innovation adds another layer of paperwork.
Sunstein makes their points well and keeps it quick, though a bit repetitive.
The proposed idea of "sludge audits" is excellent, I can see how it would be hard to generate much enthusiasm for it.
Being a beurocrat by profession, i can see the desperate need to improve people's lives by cutting down on red tape.
Taxes. Hospital visits. Driver's licences.
So many things that are being streamlined in the modern age. But it's 3 steps forward and 2 steps back, as every innovation adds another layer of paperwork.
April 17, 2024
Sludge - the antithesis of nudge. So the idea was very appealing but the treatment was only so so.
May 4, 2024
I'd recent read Robert Sutton and Huggy Rao's The Friction Project where they'd referenced Cass Sunstein's Sludge. I borrowed it from the library to delve a bit deeper into the issue of the frictions and roadblocks that organisations impose on their customers and other stakeholders.
Sunstein defines sludge as:
"[the] frictions that separate people from what they want to get….Much sludge involves waiting time (in person, on the phone, even online). Much of it involves reporting burdens (as when people are required to fill out weekly reports, explaining what they have been doing with their lives). Much of it consists of dreary of duplicative application requirements, including time spent online, which might be required if people are seeking to obtain money, medical care, a job, a visa, a permit, or some kind of life-saving help. Much of it involves travel (as when people need to show up somewhere for an in-person interview). Much sludge involves confusing administrative burdens - requiring people to obtain information, to figure out whom to call, to find out exactly what they are supposed to do. Much of it involves clearance processes, familiar within government (as when ten people must "sign off" on some document or initiative) and also in the private sector (as at private universities and hospitals). Training requirements - imposed, for example, on doctors, nurses, pilots, truck drivers, and flight attendants - count as sludge, though they may of course be justified".
He clarifies that sludge goes beyond "red tape"; having to wait in line to vote is a form of sludge but it's not red tape. And while sludge can be seen as a kind of transaction cost, not all transaction costs (e.g. legal fees) are sludge.
Just like how friction can be a positive by making people slow down before they can make a bad decision, Sunstein notes that sludge often serves important goals. Some justifications for sludge include ensuring eligibility and program integrity (e.g. eligibility for bank loans); counteracting self-control problems (e.g. gun purchases); protecting privacy and/or security (e.g. answering questions before being allowed to reset one's account passwords); targeting benefits to those who most need or deserve them, and acquiring useful information for record keeping, monitoring and assessment, to name a few.
So sludge isn't always bad; there can be an optimal or even an insufficient level of sludge. But more often than not, the issue with sludge is that there are excessive levels of it. Sludge is "weaponized" in myriad ways - in redemptions to reduce the likelihood of people claiming what they are entitled to, for instance. Sunstein argues that "a society pervaded by sludge humiliates people and sludge reduction removes the humiliation" and we need regular "sludge audits" to show just how much sludge is out there (e.g. paperwork burdens). After all, Sunstein notes that while some actors do impose sludge deliberately (think organisations that make it easy to sign up for a subscription but extremely difficult to unsubscribe), "[i]n many cases, officials themselves have no clue about the consequences of paperwork and related requirements… When people are required to jump through hoops, all sorts of bad things might happen, some of them surprising. One of the least surprising is that many people stop jumping. That might be a reasonable thing to do or essential to people's self-preservation, but in many cases it is also a kind of tragedy."
The challenge Sunstein issues is this: How might we design "sludge-free zones"? He gives examples of quick ways by which bureaucracies can reduce sludge: using short-form options, promote pre-population of forms, make less frequent information collections, and reuse information that the government already. There is value in focussing on reducing burdens on vulnerable subpopulations such as the poor, the sick, the elderly and disabled. He quotes Esther Duflo on the bandwidth tax that sludge imposes on the poor and its devastating impact:
"We tend to be patronizing about the poor in a very specific sense, which is that we tend to think, "Why don't they take more responsibility for their lives?" And what we are forgetting is that the richer you are, the less responsibility you need to take for your own life because everything is taken care [of] for you. And the poorer you are the more you have to be responsible for everything about your life…Stop berating people for not being responsible and start to think of ways instead of providing the poor with the luxury that we all have, which is that a lot of decisions are taken for us. If we do nothing, we are on the right track. For most of the poor, if they do nothing, they are on the right track."
Sunstein ends off with this call to action:
"Time is the most precious commodity that human beings have. Let's find ways to give them more of it."
Overall not a bad read but coming after The Friction Project, it felt a little meh.
Sunstein defines sludge as:
"[the] frictions that separate people from what they want to get….Much sludge involves waiting time (in person, on the phone, even online). Much of it involves reporting burdens (as when people are required to fill out weekly reports, explaining what they have been doing with their lives). Much of it consists of dreary of duplicative application requirements, including time spent online, which might be required if people are seeking to obtain money, medical care, a job, a visa, a permit, or some kind of life-saving help. Much of it involves travel (as when people need to show up somewhere for an in-person interview). Much sludge involves confusing administrative burdens - requiring people to obtain information, to figure out whom to call, to find out exactly what they are supposed to do. Much of it involves clearance processes, familiar within government (as when ten people must "sign off" on some document or initiative) and also in the private sector (as at private universities and hospitals). Training requirements - imposed, for example, on doctors, nurses, pilots, truck drivers, and flight attendants - count as sludge, though they may of course be justified".
He clarifies that sludge goes beyond "red tape"; having to wait in line to vote is a form of sludge but it's not red tape. And while sludge can be seen as a kind of transaction cost, not all transaction costs (e.g. legal fees) are sludge.
Just like how friction can be a positive by making people slow down before they can make a bad decision, Sunstein notes that sludge often serves important goals. Some justifications for sludge include ensuring eligibility and program integrity (e.g. eligibility for bank loans); counteracting self-control problems (e.g. gun purchases); protecting privacy and/or security (e.g. answering questions before being allowed to reset one's account passwords); targeting benefits to those who most need or deserve them, and acquiring useful information for record keeping, monitoring and assessment, to name a few.
So sludge isn't always bad; there can be an optimal or even an insufficient level of sludge. But more often than not, the issue with sludge is that there are excessive levels of it. Sludge is "weaponized" in myriad ways - in redemptions to reduce the likelihood of people claiming what they are entitled to, for instance. Sunstein argues that "a society pervaded by sludge humiliates people and sludge reduction removes the humiliation" and we need regular "sludge audits" to show just how much sludge is out there (e.g. paperwork burdens). After all, Sunstein notes that while some actors do impose sludge deliberately (think organisations that make it easy to sign up for a subscription but extremely difficult to unsubscribe), "[i]n many cases, officials themselves have no clue about the consequences of paperwork and related requirements… When people are required to jump through hoops, all sorts of bad things might happen, some of them surprising. One of the least surprising is that many people stop jumping. That might be a reasonable thing to do or essential to people's self-preservation, but in many cases it is also a kind of tragedy."
The challenge Sunstein issues is this: How might we design "sludge-free zones"? He gives examples of quick ways by which bureaucracies can reduce sludge: using short-form options, promote pre-population of forms, make less frequent information collections, and reuse information that the government already. There is value in focussing on reducing burdens on vulnerable subpopulations such as the poor, the sick, the elderly and disabled. He quotes Esther Duflo on the bandwidth tax that sludge imposes on the poor and its devastating impact:
"We tend to be patronizing about the poor in a very specific sense, which is that we tend to think, "Why don't they take more responsibility for their lives?" And what we are forgetting is that the richer you are, the less responsibility you need to take for your own life because everything is taken care [of] for you. And the poorer you are the more you have to be responsible for everything about your life…Stop berating people for not being responsible and start to think of ways instead of providing the poor with the luxury that we all have, which is that a lot of decisions are taken for us. If we do nothing, we are on the right track. For most of the poor, if they do nothing, they are on the right track."
Sunstein ends off with this call to action:
"Time is the most precious commodity that human beings have. Let's find ways to give them more of it."
Overall not a bad read but coming after The Friction Project, it felt a little meh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2021
Sludge is defined as bureaucratic or procedural requirements that slow down official and private activity, with the goal of ensuring optimal distribution of goods and services. Some sludge is needed (e.g. to ensure people don't abuse a governmental program and that they qualify for it). Often times though sludge grows to gargantuan levels, by accident or by design, and ends up excluding people from receiving the benefits they qualify for and need, wastes time and humiliates citizens.
I long ago felt North America imposed some draconian, scary protocols and tactics. I was scarred by my visa application process for both Canada and the US although I qualified (and was wanted) in both situations. For e.g. the Canadian immigration system is very opaque, full of mistakes (on their own webpages pages and telephone lines) and specially tailored to make you waste a lot of time, unless you pay a lot of money to immigration lawyers (which can and have scammed people). But I thought I was just weak for complaining about it.
Turns out, similar processes have scarred a lot of other people.
I agree with this book but it was too short and had no time to go into details. It needed to be longer. More in depth. It only gave me a taste of what we can do to reduce sludge. Quick examples: the book discusses complicated registration and long voting lines as sludge. Which is a shock, because in my country, as a citizen, what you need to do to vote is turn 18! You show up with your ID (which is mandatory from age 14) and that's it! Voting lines are very rare, all our elections are on Sunday. Bigger questions arise like: why are so many America citizens banned from voting? Why is voting day a week day? Most Americans either pay taxes or drive a car, so how come voter registration is even needed? It's true the book couldn't go into a lot of detail, but the reasons we have sludge (a combination of discriminatory and/or old laws, bureaucratic positive feedback mechanisms, etc) were too briefly discussed. Solutions were also very few. I appreciated the balanced approach (e.g. giving arguments in favor of allowing some sludge prior to an abortion), but I feel I didn't learn anything I didn't already know from this book. It would have worked better as an essay in my opinion. Or a bigger book. The Big Book on Sludge perhaps?
I long ago felt North America imposed some draconian, scary protocols and tactics. I was scarred by my visa application process for both Canada and the US although I qualified (and was wanted) in both situations. For e.g. the Canadian immigration system is very opaque, full of mistakes (on their own webpages pages and telephone lines) and specially tailored to make you waste a lot of time, unless you pay a lot of money to immigration lawyers (which can and have scammed people). But I thought I was just weak for complaining about it.
Turns out, similar processes have scarred a lot of other people.
I agree with this book but it was too short and had no time to go into details. It needed to be longer. More in depth. It only gave me a taste of what we can do to reduce sludge. Quick examples: the book discusses complicated registration and long voting lines as sludge. Which is a shock, because in my country, as a citizen, what you need to do to vote is turn 18! You show up with your ID (which is mandatory from age 14) and that's it! Voting lines are very rare, all our elections are on Sunday. Bigger questions arise like: why are so many America citizens banned from voting? Why is voting day a week day? Most Americans either pay taxes or drive a car, so how come voter registration is even needed? It's true the book couldn't go into a lot of detail, but the reasons we have sludge (a combination of discriminatory and/or old laws, bureaucratic positive feedback mechanisms, etc) were too briefly discussed. Solutions were also very few. I appreciated the balanced approach (e.g. giving arguments in favor of allowing some sludge prior to an abortion), but I feel I didn't learn anything I didn't already know from this book. It would have worked better as an essay in my opinion. Or a bigger book. The Big Book on Sludge perhaps?
November 12, 2021
Sludge, a book by Cass Sunstein, one of the authors of Nudge, is a quick read that given a name to something we’ve all encountered: something a transaction cost that is out of proportion to any value it might have. Sludge exists in both public and private settings.A common example of sludge in the private sector is rebates: Some rebates are annoying enough to submit that many people forget to do them. There are numbers examples of anything you might refer to as “red tape” in the public sector that probably come to mind.
While generally something that manipulates us and makes it hard to get what we want, Sludge can sometimes, when applied thoughtfully, provide a buffer that makes sure people are thinking through consequences of decisions or get what they need. Some example of this is waiting periods before marriage or divorce, or (reasonable) documentation to receive benefits so that resources get allocated as intended. The challenge is the definition of “reasonable.” (Also note that the authors explicitly call out waiting periods and mandated education for abortion as not appropriate, as they are often set up in a way that imposes roadblocks rather than a time for consideration.)
There is a chapter on Sludge in Nudge: The Final Edition, and while it wasn’t clear when I read that chapter that there was a lot more to say, the examples in Sludge clarified the nuances around “red tape” and similar processes. And the discussion of things to be aware of so that we can avoid sludge are concrete enough to make this book actionable.
This is a short, entertaining book that discusses a pervasive problem and offers hope that we can reduce Sludge with awareness, vision, and action.
While generally something that manipulates us and makes it hard to get what we want, Sludge can sometimes, when applied thoughtfully, provide a buffer that makes sure people are thinking through consequences of decisions or get what they need. Some example of this is waiting periods before marriage or divorce, or (reasonable) documentation to receive benefits so that resources get allocated as intended. The challenge is the definition of “reasonable.” (Also note that the authors explicitly call out waiting periods and mandated education for abortion as not appropriate, as they are often set up in a way that imposes roadblocks rather than a time for consideration.)
There is a chapter on Sludge in Nudge: The Final Edition, and while it wasn’t clear when I read that chapter that there was a lot more to say, the examples in Sludge clarified the nuances around “red tape” and similar processes. And the discussion of things to be aware of so that we can avoid sludge are concrete enough to make this book actionable.
This is a short, entertaining book that discusses a pervasive problem and offers hope that we can reduce Sludge with awareness, vision, and action.
January 19, 2022
I really appreciated Professor Sunstein tackling this under-the-surface, oft overlooked subject and his call to action to do something about it. If you're a seasoned federal bureaucrat, however, you're painfully familiar with it. For those who are, this book doesn't tell you anything you didn't already know and that you weren't already frustrated about. I appreciated the mostly even-handed analysis to the pros and cons of "sludge", but I wish that the solutions offered were bigger ideas and that more emphasis was placed on them and why they're good ideas. The "What do Do about It" warranted one chapter, while "What Stops Us from Getting Things Done" took all the preceding ones. It's often easier to criticize something, but finding a real solution to the thing you don't like is much, much harder. Perhaps the project here was to make people more aware of this systemic problem, and if that's the case, and people are attracted to this topic when termed in such a playful and effectively graphic word, then I'm hoping for the best. But what to do about sludge remains elusive, even after having read this book.
The irony of Professor Sunstein's time in the government is that he was with OIRA - the office that inserts "sludge" to combat "sludge". Could there be a non-meta way of reducing sludge? I wish Professor Sunstein had offered such a solution.
The irony of Professor Sunstein's time in the government is that he was with OIRA - the office that inserts "sludge" to combat "sludge". Could there be a non-meta way of reducing sludge? I wish Professor Sunstein had offered such a solution.
April 5, 2024
Sludge is a book by Cass R. Sunstein. Sludge is bureaucratic red tape. It is a system or process that prevents or slows an event. A famous example of sludge is the voting tests some states imposed on black people and other people of color.
The book isn't what I expected. I thought it would be a self-help genre style of book, but I have myself to blame for not checking the genre on the back. The book isn't bad, though. The ideas presented could work for a lot of different situations. Furthermore, the book opened my eyes to many problems.
Voting is a great example, and I will run with it. I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and we had to vote on three referendums. One was to raise the property taxes to support our failing school system. The other two intended to prevent a third party from spending too much on elections. The language used is obscure and ridiculous. I'm sure that many people didn't realize what they were voting for.
Sunstein wrote some other books, but I haven't read them. I may give them a try in the future. The book was okay. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.
The book isn't what I expected. I thought it would be a self-help genre style of book, but I have myself to blame for not checking the genre on the back. The book isn't bad, though. The ideas presented could work for a lot of different situations. Furthermore, the book opened my eyes to many problems.
Voting is a great example, and I will run with it. I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and we had to vote on three referendums. One was to raise the property taxes to support our failing school system. The other two intended to prevent a third party from spending too much on elections. The language used is obscure and ridiculous. I'm sure that many people didn't realize what they were voting for.
Sunstein wrote some other books, but I haven't read them. I may give them a try in the future. The book was okay. Thanks for reading my review, and see you next time.
July 17, 2024
I had read an essay in class on libertarian paternalism co-written by this author and I liked what they had to say. When I saw this book, I recognized the name and decided to read it. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Ada Siegel.
The book discusses how choice architecture is important and can affect the success of policies. Sludge is more often than not used as a form of regulation - however, there are distributional effects which disproportionally affect disadvantaged populations. The cognitive load of these populations tends to be higher, making them less likely to overcome sludge to access the programs they need, which overall contributes to systematic inequality. Reducing sludge can help combat that, as we see in more successful governmental programs. However, there is a lack of standardization and regulation of sludge on a government level.
I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to others in my field. On a technical standpoint, I would give it five stars. However, I do feel that an academic essay would’ve just as easily and more succinctly conveyed the points established.
The book discusses how choice architecture is important and can affect the success of policies. Sludge is more often than not used as a form of regulation - however, there are distributional effects which disproportionally affect disadvantaged populations. The cognitive load of these populations tends to be higher, making them less likely to overcome sludge to access the programs they need, which overall contributes to systematic inequality. Reducing sludge can help combat that, as we see in more successful governmental programs. However, there is a lack of standardization and regulation of sludge on a government level.
I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to others in my field. On a technical standpoint, I would give it five stars. However, I do feel that an academic essay would’ve just as easily and more succinctly conveyed the points established.
August 10, 2025
‘Sludge’ is such a good title for this book and collates all the different mud like processes one has to wade through in order to get something done. The author gives lots of examples (although all American stories and it felt a bit repetitive at times).
Sludge can be built into the architecture or design of a project or program. Sometimes deliberately. An extra reminder to consider who you are paying online is a good thing. A form that takes 5 hours to complete in order to claim benefits when reading is difficult is definitely sludge and is discriminatory.
Those in poverty (mentally, socially and financially) have a smaller ‘bandwidth’ to be able to follow complex processes versus those who have enough money to live on and are well. Again, discriminatory.
Performing a ‘Sludge Audit’ is a great idea. I came up with a few questions to consider for my company. I would have liked the author to perhaps suggested some generic questions for such an Audit.
‘Time is the most precious commodity that human being have. Let’s find ways to give them more of it (by reducing sludge)’ (p.111)
Sludge can be built into the architecture or design of a project or program. Sometimes deliberately. An extra reminder to consider who you are paying online is a good thing. A form that takes 5 hours to complete in order to claim benefits when reading is difficult is definitely sludge and is discriminatory.
Those in poverty (mentally, socially and financially) have a smaller ‘bandwidth’ to be able to follow complex processes versus those who have enough money to live on and are well. Again, discriminatory.
Performing a ‘Sludge Audit’ is a great idea. I came up with a few questions to consider for my company. I would have liked the author to perhaps suggested some generic questions for such an Audit.
‘Time is the most precious commodity that human being have. Let’s find ways to give them more of it (by reducing sludge)’ (p.111)
May 6, 2025
Sludge, the opposite of nudge - making things harder, intentionally or not. Sometimes for specific advantages, other times due to unneeded factors.
Mostly using examples of how states and countries use sludge and when removing sludge works (example used for fast forwarding things - the Covid pandemic).
3.5 hours and it still felt too long. Mostly because the author doesn't delve too deep into the concept itself, but spends a lot of time describing specific examples of how things are. Little is spent in solutions and answering "what can be done", and that is at a macro level (much less about what individuals can do to confront the sludge with which they're faced).
Mostly using examples of how states and countries use sludge and when removing sludge works (example used for fast forwarding things - the Covid pandemic).
3.5 hours and it still felt too long. Mostly because the author doesn't delve too deep into the concept itself, but spends a lot of time describing specific examples of how things are. Little is spent in solutions and answering "what can be done", and that is at a macro level (much less about what individuals can do to confront the sludge with which they're faced).
October 19, 2021
It feels like this book was written for me! In his book Nudge, Cass R. Sunstein describes how people are moved to act in a beneficial way. Sludge describes the muck that bogs you down when you attempt to act. Sunstein discusses barriers to action in the government, public and private sector, namely the administrative burdens like filling out paperwork, following processes that maybe outdated, and additional red tape. Overall, this was an interesting and well-written book.
**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review**
**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review**
November 25, 2025
I heard Cass on the Freakonomics Radio podcast and really enjoyed the interview so I grabbed the book. I was really shocked at how short it was. 3/4 of it is complaining about the current state of affairs, the last quarter is "solutions," but not really. It's more like hey this might work, but no government or agency is going to actually do it for these reasons. I actually think the Freakanomics episode was far better than the book itself.
September 12, 2021
The cost of sludge — unnecessary paperwork and clunky processes — is staggering. Worse, sludge is being used intentionally to disenfranchise voters, limit access to benefits like healthcare, abuse customers, etc. Sunstein recommends audits to identify it and assess costs and benefits. What are the odds governments or companies will act on his advice?
November 3, 2025
Excelente livro. Bom complemento para quem estuda sobre Nudge. Um incrível livro que traz uma visão muito boa sobre o quanto que a burocracia, ou lama, nos impede a sociedade de crescer. Ótimo para pessoas do setor público, líderes de inovação, líderes de escolas ou apenas pessoas com atitude de liderança em empresas.
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May 26, 2022Sunstein and Thaler's Nudge introduced us to libertarian paternalism as way to push people to make better decisions without taking away choice. Sunstein's follow up describes how governments and firms can introduce friction to limit people's choices.
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