Author: Tony Hockley (LSE)

Why New Year’s resolutions matter: The psychology behind the tradition

December 31, 2024

Ivo Vlaev, Professor of Behavioural Science, University of Warwick New Year’s resolutions represent more than just a fleeting tradition; they offer a powerful opportunity for self-reflection and intentional growth. Rooted in six fundamental psychological needs shared by all humans, resolutions serve as a catalyst for meaningful change. Here’s why they matter and how they can … More Why New Year’s resolutions matter: The psychology behind the tradition

Meat and manhood: Unpacking resistance to reduced meat consumption

December 26, 2024

Excessive meat consumption is increasingly scrutinised for its impacts on the environment, animal welfare, and public health. Men’s consumption of meat is higher than women’s, driven not just by taste preferences and higher caloric needs, but also social expectations surrounding men’s diets. Public messaging to reduce a behaviour as deeply ingrained as meat eating—a food that humans have consumed for at least 2.5 million years—can expect to face significant resistance. Behavioural public policy may offer unique tools to address this, but has to be careful not to trigger psychological defences.   … More Meat and manhood: Unpacking resistance to reduced meat consumption

Is “In Kind” Kinder than Cash?

October 31, 2024

Cash aid has clear appeal in addressing poverty and food insecurity. it offers the recipient autonomy, and efficiency and ease of delivery for donors. This blog draws lessons from research into how recipients experience cash aid versus in-kind food aid, and offers advice on how to improve the experience for people in need … More Is “In Kind” Kinder than Cash?

Behavioural Public Policy: A Personal History

October 28, 2024

Adam Oliver (LSE) describes how he became involved in the field of behavioural public policy, detailing hw the intellectual architecture came into existence and his hopes for how it might develop in the future. This blog was written ahead of his 9 December 2024 LSE inaugural lecture on the same topic.

… More Behavioural Public Policy: A Personal History

“There’s something special about Behavioural Public Policy” or “There’s nothing special about Behavioural Public Policy”

October 2, 2024

Rupert Gill highlights the risks in an emerging magpie-like approach to behavioural public policy (BPP) in practice; taking a method from here, a theory from there. A clear definition of BPP is needed for a field that has morphed from the formula of a nudge plus an RCT to be a “catch-all” for applying the theories and methods of social or behavioural sciences to public policy.   This leaves the field lacking a clear offer in a period of great opportunity and great risk. … More “There’s something special about Behavioural Public Policy” or “There’s nothing special about Behavioural Public Policy”

A Nudge+ for Peruvian Pension Drawdown

September 30, 2024

Policies allowing pension withdrawals at any age in Peru could leave people short of essential savings, Constanza Valdez suggests a “Nudge+ intervention to prompt a little careful reflection before people head to the shops with their savings cash … More A Nudge+ for Peruvian Pension Drawdown

Keeping track: Finding the “how it works” for an app on cutting down drinking

July 24, 2024

Giving people agency within a health behaviour change intervention may be both desirable and effective. Smartphone apps make this approach possible for a large part of the population. If this works, however, it is also vital to understand how and why an app is effective. This blog by Larisa Dina (UCL) describes the process evaluation of a recent trial run by UCL researchers evaluating how engagement with an alcohol reduction app, Drink Less, and participants behavioural characteristics underpin its effectiveness. … More Keeping track: Finding the “how it works” for an app on cutting down drinking

Navigating the ethics of Behavioural Public Policy: Views from Academia and Policy Making

June 17, 2024

Mathieu Prevelato reflects on the discussions of the Behavioural Public Policy Knowledge Exchange Group, bringing together academics and policymakers. The blog highlights apparent tensions between the ethics and practicalities of behavioural public policy … More Navigating the ethics of Behavioural Public Policy: Views from Academia and Policy Making

The Future of Trust

March 7, 2024

In this blog Ros Taylor, author of “The Future of Trust” highlights the complex causes of distrust. Causes that can be invisible to those who interactions with the state may be occasionally frustrating rather than existential. Modern society requires large amounts of institutional trust in order to function. Policymakers need to understand and engage with the causes of distrust. … More The Future of Trust

Economics deserves its Nobel

December 14, 2023

Erik Angner argues that, far from being “a made-up Nobel” economics is the most suitable discipline for a Nobel prize: Economics is about helping people live lives worth living.,Nobody illustrates this point better than this year’s laureate. … More Economics deserves its Nobel