Tag: Nudge

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

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

Aerial view of flooded homes in the Netherlands

Disaster preparedness: Will a “norm nudge” sink or swim?

September 28, 2023

In a world increasingly vulnerable to climate change-induced flooding, this blog delves into an intriguing study exploring how social norms may be harnessed to improve flood preparedness among homeowners. While the study’s outcomes may challenge our initial assumptions, they underline the importance of methodical testing within the realm of behavioral science. Additionally, we take a moment to honor Howard Kunreuther’s enduring dedication to disaster resilience and his lasting influence on the field. Through this examination, we delve into the world of social norms, behavioral nudges, and the unending pursuit of safer and more resilient  … More Disaster preparedness: Will a “norm nudge” sink or swim?

Behaviour Change through Choice Architecture: Where do we stand?

June 16, 2022

What does a decade of attention to Choice Architecture in policy tell us about the effectiveness of interventions? Are some types of intervention more effective than others? Are choice architecture interventions more effective in some behavioural domains than others? In this blog the authors of a recent meta-analysis of the behavioural public policy literature covering past interventions reflect on their findings looking at the variations in effects and on publication bias in the choice architecture literature. They argue that regardless of absolute effect sizes, which need to be treated with some caution, the meta-analysis may be useful to guide policymakers in choices between types of interventions. … More Behaviour Change through Choice Architecture: Where do we stand?

To Nudge Plus or Nudge+ A dilemma

February 18, 2022

In the blog Sanchayan Banerjee & Peter John overcome nostalgia for “nudge plus” and herald the new dawn of Nudge+. Is this a more distinctive depiction of the research agenda encouraging people to reflect on the choices they face? Does it more successfully stress the link to the “nudge” yet transform it with its subliminal radicalism? The authors deliberate and decide. … More To Nudge Plus or Nudge+ A dilemma

Nudge acceptance in Developing Countries: Ethical (or Unnecessary) Litmus Test?

September 8, 2020

It is tempting to justify contrasting standards with regard to public acceptance of nudges between developed and developing country contexts. This is a slippery slope that has, in the past, led to harmful interventions. As behavioural tools become more widely used there is a need to re-examine these issues. Public acceptance may seem like a difficult litmus test in some countries, but failure may simply indicate that policymakers are trying to change too much, too fast. Creating demand for behaviour change is an important first step. … More Nudge acceptance in Developing Countries: Ethical (or Unnecessary) Litmus Test?

Has Behavioural Economics made Economics less insular?

May 30, 2020

Economics is often described as insular from other social sciences. Alexandre Truc shares the results of research mapping thee content of more than 5000 articles and their references. The research reveals fascinating trends and differences between the various clusters of behavioural economic research. This includes a shift towards greater diversity of disciplines involved in behavioural economics, and thus a relative decline in the role for psychology. Nevertheless, the research shows that the rise of behavioural economics has served more generally as a bridge for the psychology into economics. … More Has Behavioural Economics made Economics less insular?