Behavioural Insights and Public Policy

Lessons from Around the World

Published on March 01, 2017

“Behavioural insights”, or insights derived from the behavioural and social sciences, including decision making, psychology, cognitive science, neuroscience, organisational and group behaviour, are being applied by governments with the aim of making public policies work better. As their use has become more widespread, however, questions are being raised about their effectiveness as well as their philosophical underpinnings. This report discusses the use and reach of behavioural insights, drawing on a comprehensive collection of over 100 applications across the world and policy sectors, including consumer protection, education, energy, environment, finance, health and safety, labour market policies, public service delivery, taxes and telecommunications. It suggests ways to ensure that this experimental approach can be successfully and sustainably used as a public policy tool.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Expand

Foreword and acknowledgements	Read Download PDF
Acronyms and abbreviations	Read Download PDF
Executive summary	Read Download PDF
Why bother? Context and approach	Read Download PDF
What's going on? Insights from the behavioural insight case studies	Read Download PDF
Where to go next? Shaping a policy and research agenda	Read Download PDF
Behavioural insights case studies: Consumer protection	Read Download PDF
Behavioural insights case studies: Education	Read Download PDF
Behavioural insights case studies: Energy	Read Download PDF
Behavioural insights case studies: Environment	Read Download PDF
Behavioural insights case studies: Financial products	Read Download PDF
Behavioural insights case studies: Health and safety	Read Download PDF
Behavioural insights case studies: Labour market	Read Download PDF
Behavioural insights case studies: Public service delivery	Read Download PDF
Behavioural insights case studies: Tax	Read Download PDF
Behavioural insights case studies: Telecommunications	Read Download PDF
Additional behavioural insights case studies	Read Download PDF
Glossary	Read Download PDF

Interested in reading over 100 case studies showing the application of behavioural insights to public policy around the world?

The OECD publication Behavioural Insights and Public Policy: Lessons from Around the World presents the results of a first-of-its-kind survey of behavioural insights units around the world.

How is behavioural insights being applied to public policy?

Collect all 4 posters/postcards (click photo to download)

I. Smart policies: Brought to you by BI

II. Costa Rica: Reducing Water Consumption

III. South Africa: Keeping Youth Safe

‌

IV. United Kingdom: Fighting Antibiotic Resistance

‌

Below you can find a video explaining the key findings of the report, as well as reactions and messages from partners and practitioners from across the world.

OECD
Australia ‌	Hilary Viney Australian Securities and Investments Commission
Canada	Andre Patry Canada Revenue Agency
	Dilip Soman Behavioural Economics in Action at Rotman University of Toronto
Colombia	Juan Manuel Wilches Duran Commission for Communications Regulation
Costa Rica	Francisco Alpizar EfD Central America, Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center (CATIE)
Denmark	Pelle Hansen The European Nudge Network (TEN)
European Commission	Joana Sousa Lourenco European Commission Joint Research Centre, Foresight and Behavioural Insights Unit
France	Mariam Chammat and Stephan Giraud Le secrétariat général pour la modernisation de l’action publique (SGMAP)
Ireland	Pete Lunn The Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI)
Italy	Alberto Biancardi The Italian Regulatory Authority for Electricity Gas and Water (AEEGSI)
	Nadia Linciano The Regulatory Authority for Financial Markets (Consob)
Qatar	Fadi Makki Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy
Singapore	Kok Ping Soon Ministry of Manpower
South Africa	Ammaarah Kamish Western Cape Government
United Kingdom	David Halpern The Behavioural Insights Team
	Jonathan Porter Ofcom
	Martin Lodge London School of Economics and Public Policy, Centre for Analysis of Risk and Regulation
United States	Iris Bohnet Harvard Kennedy School Centre for Public Leadership, Behavioural Insights Group (BIG)
	Katy Davis ideas42
United Nations	Malika Bhandarkar and Benjamin Kumpf United Nations Development Programme
	Sara Castro de Hallgren United Nations Environment Programme