We investigate the effect of certificate-of-need (CON) laws on the quality of hospitals. As of 2015, 36 states and the District of Columbia required healthcare providers to seek approval from a state s healthcare regulator before making any major capital expenditures. These requirements restrict...

Policymakers behavioral economics toolbox contains both paternalistic and nonpaternalistic nudges. In the case of paternalistic nudges, policymakers identify the optimal choice for consumers and then push consumers toward that choice by setting default options or manipulating loss aversion. In...