Behavioral Economics and Decision-Making (2015–2026): A Systematic and Critical Review of the Empirical Evidence
Keywords:
behavioral economics, cognitive biases, heuristics, decision-making, nudges, systematic reviewAbstract
Behavioral economics has emerged as a key field for understanding systematic deviations in economic decision-making from the classical rational model. This study aimed to synthesize and critically evaluate recent scientific evidence on cognitive biases, heuristics, and choice architecture. A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 protocol, considering articles published between 2015 and 2026 in Scopus and Web of Science. After the selection process, 21 studies were included for qualitative synthesis. The findings indicate that loss aversion, overconfidence, and cognitive heuristics constitute central determinants of economic behavior. Likewise, nudge-based interventions have demonstrated significant effects in contexts such as health, consumption, and sustainability, although their impact varies depending on the context. It is concluded that behavioral economics has evolved into an interdisciplinary approach with increasing technological integration; however, challenges related to replicability and the generalizability of findings remain.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Jimmy Roshimber Bazan Rivera, Octavio César Marín Chávez, Fernando Alberto Santiago Mantare, Walter Ortiz Meza, Janet Yvone Castagne Vásquez

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