Paradox of Choice

[magus341]

(in response to Brian's "Analysis Paralysis")

Barry Schwartz confuses an analytical technique for explaining choice with a measure of total welfare (See Mankiw's Principles 2 and 3). Opportunity cost is not an actual cost that anyone has to pay, it's simple highlights the alternate uses of their time. There is no way to avoid it. There are

Comments

[psyllogism]

Now, I haven't read his book. All I've done is watch his TED talk and I've heard what others who've read his book have said. But it sounds to me like you're attacking a straw man. I don't see him advocating for NO choices, or preventing people from making choices that they WANT to make. For one thing, he admits that more choices often can make people objectively better off. His thesis is on the subjective experience and the wishy-washy notion of "happiness", and all those choices that people DON'T want to have to make.

HOWEVER, on some of your specific points: Even anailia of all people has argued the merits of prearranged marriages. I've heard some cogent arguments that the system is not intrinsically bad and even often good, mainly dealing with one's expectations

[psyllogism]

Basically, it seems to me that SIMPLY adding more choices is NOT enough to make MANY people better off. You have to do more (which is where Nudge comes in as one way of doing things; there are others). Schwartz is just (sometimes clumsily) trying to explain WHY that is, psychologically. That's the way I see it, anyway.

btw, his "policy suggestion" at the end I think is absolute crock, and takes away from everything else he says. I don't think that just redistributing income is enough to improve everybody's welfare. That might be more the attitude you are attacking.

[magus341]

Yeah, I realize I am strawmaning a bit, but he really did claim women were better off when they all got married at 20 and didn't have careers. He did claim that we are better off with one type of jeans than 10. I suppose some people don't like making choices, but I am not one of them. I suppose I am an example of what he is arguing against - more choice is better.

There are things people can do in the face of overwhelming choices. They can use others choices to guide them, they can go to smaller stores, they can try not to think too much about alternatives. I find opportunity costs liberating. I don't have to decide that I am doing the absolute best thing, just focus on making the best decisions one at a time considering my alternatives. I suppose he got under my skin and I let it get the better of me.

[magus341]

All human experience is subjective. I don't think there is any objective way to judge utility of others, so if someone says they don't like choice, I have to take that at face value or at least observe their actions in regards to that preference. If people continually act against their stated preferences, you have to assume they are being deceptive, either with you or themselves.