Agencies Should Use Data to Offer Personalized Nudges

By most metrics, Americans are not saving nearly enough, writes Daniel Castro in Government Technology. When it comes to retirement, almost a third of Americans have no savings to supplement their Social Security benefits. In addition, almost half of Americans have no savings to draw on in the event of an emergency. Not only do these conditions leave many families in a precarious financial position, but widespread financial insecurity also poses a challenge for state and local governments that may face significant demands for public assistance. While some policymakers are taking steps to address this problem, they are missing out on an opportunity to provide personalized interventions to individuals.