Behavioural Insights and Public Policy in Canada

Abstract

Much of political science rests on assumptions about how policy makers and citizens behave. However, questions remain about how public policy can improve the government–citizen relationship. In this research note, we present behavioural insights (BI) as one way to address this gap. First, we argue that BI can be strategically used both to alleviate administrative burdens and to enhance citizen experience. Second, we argue that BI interventions can assist in several stages of the policy process, strengthening causal inferences about policy efficacy. Third, we present original data from Canada's ongoing experimentation with BI across multiple jurisdictions and areas of public policy. We conclude by acknowledging the myriad pathways through which BI research can engage with public policy to support the enhancement of citizen-oriented service delivery.

Navegando los desafíos de la salud pública en Casanare: un enfoque conductual con implicaciones para América Latina

“…En consecuencia, se subraya la pertinencia de que los tomadores de decisiones públicas adopten con mayor frecuencia esta perspectiva. Fundamental para este enfoque es la identificación de ajustes sutiles con repercusiones significativas, respaldados por rigurosos métodos científicos (Hopkins & Lawlor, 2023).…”