Preferences are not fixed! Why this matters for climate policy and societal transformation

October 13, 2026

The article by Sebastian Berger and Felix Creutzig argues that human preferences are not fixed but shaped by context and experiences. Policies like Ljubljana’s car-free zone demonstrate how changes in the environment can alter preferences towards sustainability. Demand-side solutions are vital for climate change mitigation, requiring transformative policies that encourage experiential learning. … More Preferences are not fixed! Why this matters for climate policy and societal transformation

Why does the same behavioural intervention take off in one community and stall in another?

September 2, 2026

Behavioural interventions land in social worlds where people copy one another, though not all in the same way. New research shows a campaign can stall, drift or cascade depending on whether people follow the majority, the prestigious or the successful. Policy design should pay attention to how people learn from each other. … More Why does the same behavioural intervention take off in one community and stall in another?

When fast is right and slow is wrong (rethinking intuition and deliberation)

August 27, 2026

The article by Jérémie Beucler and Wim De Nys critiques dual-process theory, highlighting some of its simplifications. They argue that intuition can be sound and deliberation sometimes ineffective in enhancing decision-making. Their research suggests that smarter individuals exhibit better intuitions, advocating for a focus on developing better intuitive judgment rather than solely promoting deliberation. … More When fast is right and slow is wrong (rethinking intuition and deliberation)

Is a transparent nudge a better one? The evidence paints a mixed picture

August 24, 2026

The worry is that nudges may bypass deliberate choice-making and leave people feeling manipulated by steering behaviour without their awareness. The most popular response is simply to tell people they are being nudged through a disclosure message attached to the intervention. But does disclosing a nudge actually make people feel more in control? And does it make the nudge any more effective? … More Is a transparent nudge a better one? The evidence paints a mixed picture

The Power and Peril of “Behavioural” in Public Policy

August 20, 2026

Research on behavioral public policy (BPP) has rapidly increased in the past decade, with a notable rise in publications from 891 articles (1980-2018) to 876 in just five years (2019-2024). The analysis reveals BPP’s growing geographical diversity and engagement with contemporary issues. Additionally, BPP plays a critical role in policy legitimacy beyond intervention effectiveness. … More The Power and Peril of “Behavioural” in Public Policy

Eco home with solar panels, rooftop garden, and surrounding neighborhood

Why Don’t People Retrofit? Lessons from Behavioural Science and Community Co-Creation

August 18, 2026

Achieving net zero will require transforming the homes we already live in, improving energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Retrofitting will depend on technologies, finance, and infrastructure – and also on trust, participation, and collective ownership. It is about working with the people who live in them. … More Why Don’t People Retrofit? Lessons from Behavioural Science and Community Co-Creation

Young man thinking surrounded by mechanical gears and idea bubbles

Can behavioural policy build sustainable competencies? New evidence says yes

June 4, 2026

Boosts are behavioural interventions that improve decisions by teaching people simple skills. In sustainability, the main barrier is often not willingness, but know-how. Drawing on new evidence, Yavor Paunov argues that boosts can build lasting competences, helping people make sustainable choices even after the policy intervention itself is removed. … More Can behavioural policy build sustainable competencies? New evidence says yes

From i-frame slogans to s-frame solutions: How counter-industry gambling messages can replace individual responsibility with systemic accountability

May 27, 2026

Messages like “gamble responsibly” frame gambling harms as a matter of individual responsibility. Counter-industry warnings such as “gambling products are designed to be addictive” instead highlight systemic drivers of harmful gambling. In this blogpost, Maira Andrade and Philip Newall show how policymakers could best use such counter-industry warnings. … More From i-frame slogans to s-frame solutions: How counter-industry gambling messages can replace individual responsibility with systemic accountability

Clay human figure with colorful cords extending to ears, eyes, and hands

(Dis)embodied behavioural design? On embodiment’s effect on autonomy and agency

May 5, 2026

Decision-making is not just above-the-neck cognitive processing. It occurs within a specific, embodied human form who experiences the world in a physical way. This needs to be given due attention when designing and implementing behavioural interventions. … More (Dis)embodied behavioural design? On embodiment’s effect on autonomy and agency

Dice with honesty integrity cheating words

Ought ≠ Is: No Evidence for an ‘Honesty Premium’ in Public Sector Culture

April 30, 2026

Does a public sector culture promotes honesty among workers?Through randomised trials in five countries, this research finds no evidence that activating a public sector identity reduces cheating. Policymakers should implement concrete measures for integrity instead of relying on assumed virtues … More Ought ≠ Is: No Evidence for an ‘Honesty Premium’ in Public Sector Culture