Status Quo Bias
Why people disproportionately prefer the current state of affairs and how this conservatism shapes policy, institutions, and personal decisions.
The Default Option Always Wins
Status quo bias is the preference for the current state of affairs simply because it is current. People disproportionately stick with default options, existing policies, and familiar arrangements — even when alternatives are objectively better. The effect has been demonstrated in organ donation rates (countries with opt-out defaults have dramatically higher donation rates than opt-in countries), retirement savings (automatic enrollment doubles participation), and consumer choices.
The bias results from the interaction of several psychological forces: loss aversion (change risks losing what you have), the endowment effect (you value what you possess more than what you do not), and simple cognitive ease (sticking with the default requires no effort or decision-making energy).
