Nudges and choice architecture in public policy: A bibliometric analysis

Abstract

In recent years, nudges and choice architecture have gained significant attention amongst researchers, particularly in the domain of public policymaking. This study contributes to the existing literature on the application of nudges and choice architecture in public policy through a bibliometric analysis. A total of 419 documents from the Web of Science database from 2010 to 2021 were analysed, identifying the most prolific authors, foundational works, and sources, along with primary research themes. The study identifies keywords and themes that shape the current research trends and visualizes the intellectual structure of empirical works. The findings show an increasing focus on this subject area over the past decade, with a growing interest in themes such as dietary habits, healthcare, effectiveness of behavioral interventions, and sustainable choices. The application of nudges and choice architecture in policies related to health, food consumption, and diet management has also become increasingly prevalent as evidenced by the exponential growth in publications on these topics.