Investigating Public Perceptions Concerning the Acceptability and Effectiveness of Nudges for Disaster Risk Reduction Efforts in Japan

Abstract

In Japan, local governments have attempted to prepare citizens for and protect them from potential natural disasters by organizing activities such as evacuation drills and enacting rules and regulations such as building standards. A complementary approach to disaster risk reduction (DRR) efforts is to use “nudges.” In this paper, we investigate nudges as a means to improve current DRR efforts. Through a survey, we analyze the views of Japanese people regarding the acceptability of nudges and their effectiveness in influencing people's behavior. We conclude that the most favorable nudges in terms of effectiveness and acceptability are those used in an emergency scenario (when a disaster is imminent) that also convey useful information.