Cass Sunstein

Cass Sunstein (2008)

Cass Robert Sunstein (born September 21, 1954) is an American legal scholar known for his work in law and behavioral economics. He is the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard University and was the Administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the Obama administration from 2009 to 2012. Sunstein has written extensively on constitutional law, administrative law, and environmental law, as well as the effects of social norms on people's decisions and how law can be used to improve societal welfare.

Early Life and Education

Cass Sunstein was born in Concord, Massachusetts. He attended the Thayer Academy, a private preparatory school in Braintree, Massachusetts, before going on to study at Harvard College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, in 1975. He then attended Harvard Law School, where he graduated in 1978 with a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude. After law school, Sunstein clerked for Justice Benjamin Kaplan of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court and later for Justice Thurgood Marshall on the United States Supreme Court.

Career

After his clerkships, Sunstein worked as an attorney-advisor in the Office of Legal Counsel of the United States Department of Justice, and then moved into academia. He has taught at the University of Chicago Law School for nearly three decades before joining the faculty at Harvard Law School. His academic work has focused on constitutional law, administrative law, environmental law, and behavioral economics.

Sunstein is best known for his work on the concept of "nudging," a term he coined with economist Richard H. Thaler in their influential book, Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness (2008). The book argues for the design of choice architecture that can help people make better choices without restricting their freedom of choice. This concept has been influential in public policy, leading to the establishment of "nudge units" in governments around the world to improve policy outcomes in areas such as health, finance, and environmental protection.

During his tenure in the Obama administration, Sunstein helped to oversee a wide range of regulatory policies, including environmental regulations, public health initiatives, and financial reforms. He advocated for the use of cost-benefit analysis in regulatory decision-making and for policies that reflect the best available science.

Publications and Influence

Sunstein has authored or co-authored numerous books and articles. In addition to Nudge, his notable works include The Cost-Benefit Revolution (2018), Simpler: The Future of Government (2013), and Why Nudge? (2014). His writings have influenced both academic thought and practical policy-making in the United States and around the world.

Personal Life

Sunstein is married to Samantha Power, a professor at Harvard Law School and former United States Ambassador to the United Nations. They have two children.

Awards and Honors

Over his career, Sunstein has received several awards and honors for his contributions to law and public policy. These include the Holberg Prize in 2018, awarded for outstanding contributions to research in the arts, humanities, social sciences, law, or theology.

Criticism and Controversy

Sunstein's work, particularly his advocacy for nudging and regulatory reform, has not been without criticism. Some critics argue that nudging can be manipulative and infringe on individual autonomy. Others have raised concerns about the implications of his regulatory policies for individual rights and freedoms.

Legacy and Impact

Cass Sunstein's work has had a significant impact on legal scholarship, public policy, and the way governments think about regulation and human behavior. His contributions to the fields of law and behavioral economics continue to influence scholars, policymakers, and public debates around the world.