What, Exactly, Do You Want?

Suppose, for example, that a state presumes that people will be organ donors — but allows them to opt out. A lot of people, or their family members, would be troubled to learn that the state has decided, without an active choice and explicit consent, that doctors can have access to their organs. Or suppose that a large employer, focused on the plight of the poor, says that its employees will be automatically enrolled in a charitable donation program — while also allowing them to opt out. Some employees might not be so thrilled to learn that if they do nothing, they will be giving some part of their paycheck to charity — and that a change will require them to undertake the unpleasant task of saying that they want to opt out of the program.
Which brings us directly to the idea of active choosing. With respect to organ donation, pension plans, health insurance, charitable donations, and much more, the government and private firms might not present people with any kind of default setting, but might instead ask people a question that is often welcome: What, exactly, do you want?
In ordinary life, most of us delegate a certain amount of choice-making authority to spouses, doctors, lawyers, engineers and financial advisers. We do so when and because we do not want to take the time and trouble to make decisions ourselves, and when and because we know that we lack important information. We like it when a website allows us to check that blessed box that says “do not ask me again.” If we are busy — and most of us are — choosing not to choose may be the best choice of all.