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Preferences, goals and implications for paternalism

Krautwurm, Petr and Wichardt, Philipp C. LU (2025) In Economics and Philosophy
Abstract

This paper proposes a conceptual model of decision-making tying specific preferences to broader individual goals. Specifically, we consider terminal goals, representing fundamental objectives, and instrumental goals, serving as complexity-reducing intermediate steps toward achieving terminal goals and determining eventual preferences. Notably, the hierarchical goal structure allows for contextual misalignments between different instrumental goals, which may lead to suboptimal decisions - as evaluated from an outside perspective. Thus, applied to the discussion about nudging and paternalism, the model provides a methodological justification for paternalistic interventions as it is compatible with arguments in favour of interventions... (More)

This paper proposes a conceptual model of decision-making tying specific preferences to broader individual goals. Specifically, we consider terminal goals, representing fundamental objectives, and instrumental goals, serving as complexity-reducing intermediate steps toward achieving terminal goals and determining eventual preferences. Notably, the hierarchical goal structure allows for contextual misalignments between different instrumental goals, which may lead to suboptimal decisions - as evaluated from an outside perspective. Thus, applied to the discussion about nudging and paternalism, the model provides a methodological justification for paternalistic interventions as it is compatible with arguments in favour of interventions aimed to correct such choices.

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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
keywords
behavioural inconsistencies, goals, paternalism, Preferences
in
Economics and Philosophy
publisher
Cambridge University Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:105013247553
ISSN
0266-2671
DOI
10.1017/S0266267125100436
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
78aa6a99-c604-486c-9ef1-8fa624080c87
date added to LUP
2025-11-20 09:54:21
date last changed
2025-11-20 09:55:30
@article{78aa6a99-c604-486c-9ef1-8fa624080c87,
  abstract     = {{<p>This paper proposes a conceptual model of decision-making tying specific preferences to broader individual goals. Specifically, we consider terminal goals, representing fundamental objectives, and instrumental goals, serving as complexity-reducing intermediate steps toward achieving terminal goals and determining eventual preferences. Notably, the hierarchical goal structure allows for contextual misalignments between different instrumental goals, which may lead to suboptimal decisions - as evaluated from an outside perspective. Thus, applied to the discussion about nudging and paternalism, the model provides a methodological justification for paternalistic interventions as it is compatible with arguments in favour of interventions aimed to correct such choices.</p>}},
  author       = {{Krautwurm, Petr and Wichardt, Philipp C.}},
  issn         = {{0266-2671}},
  keywords     = {{behavioural inconsistencies; goals; paternalism; Preferences}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Cambridge University Press}},
  series       = {{Economics and Philosophy}},
  title        = {{Preferences, goals and implications for paternalism}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0266267125100436}},
  doi          = {{10.1017/S0266267125100436}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}