How Can Behavioural Insights Be Used to Improve EU Policy?

Troussard, Xavier; Bavel, René van

doi:10.1007/s10272-018-0711-1

“…In regulation and public policy in general, behaviourally informed initiatives, influenced by behavioural economics, have become a pervasive approach to public policy (Halpern 2015;Ruggeri 2018;Sunstein 2013;Troussard and van Bavel 2018). In particular, the last several years have seen a great deal of work on 'nudges,' standardly defined as public or private interventions that steer people in particular directions but that also allow them to go their own way (Thaler and Sunstein 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trusting nudges? Lessons from an international survey

Sunstein

¹

,

Reisch

²

,

Kaiser

³

2018

Journal of European Public Policy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the past decade, policymakers have increasingly used behaviourally informed policies, including 'nudges,' to produce desirable social outcomes. But do people actually endorse those policies? This study reports on nationally representative surveys in five countries (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, South Korea, and the US) carried out in 2017/2018. We investigate whether people in these countries approve of a list of 15 nudges regarding health, the environment, and safety issues. A particular focus is whether trust in public institutions is a potential mediator of approval. The study confirms this correlation. We also find strong majority support of all nudges in the five countries. Our findings in general, and about trust in particular, suggest the importance not only of ensuring that behaviourally informed policies are effective, but also of developing them transparently and openly, and with an opportunity for members of the public to engage and to express their concerns.

show abstract

“…Background In regulation and public policy in general, behaviourally informed initiatives, influenced by behavioural economics, have become a pervasive approach to public policy (Halpern 2015;Ruggeri 2018;Sunstein 2013;Troussard and van Bavel 2018). In particular, the last several years have seen a great deal of work on 'nudges,' standardly defined as public or private interventions that steer people in particular directions but that also allow them to go their own way (Thaler and Sunstein 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trusting Nudges? Lessons from an International Survey

Sunstein

¹

,

Reisch

²

,

Kaiser

³

2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the past decade, policymakers have increasingly used behaviourally informed policies, including 'nudges,' to produce desirable social outcomes. But do people actually endorse those policies? This study reports on nationally representative surveys in five countries (Belgium, Denmark, Germany, South Korea, and the US) carried out in 2017/2018. We investigate whether people in these countries approve of a list of 15 nudges regarding health, the environment, and safety issues. A particular focus is whether trust in public institutions is a potential mediator of approval. The study confirms this correlation. We also find strong majority support of all nudges in the five countries. Our findings in general, and about trust in particular, suggest the importance not only of ensuring that behaviourally informed policies are effective, but also of developing them transparently and openly, and with an opportunity for members of the public to engage and to express their concerns.

show abstract

“…More in detail, the guidelines help in preparing new initiatives and proposals, and manage existing policies and legislation. 5 In theory, BI have the potential to contribute to all phases (Troussard & van Bavel, 2018). They can help identify and understand the policy problem at the preparation phase.…”

Section: Bi In the Policy Cyclementioning

confidence: 99%

The evolution of behaviourally informed policy-making in the EU

Baggio

¹

,

Emanuele

²

,

Marandola

³

et al. 2021

Journal of European Public Policy

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the past decade, policy-making around the world has increased its attention to behavioural insights (BI). The European Commission (EC) identified this trend early on and has incorporated BI to its policy-making over several years. However, this experience has not been formally documented, or systematically analysed, from a policy studies perspective, leaving a large amount of experience-based knowledge on behavioural governance untapped. Our contribution aims at closing this gap, clarifying the practices by which BI are gaining epistemic authority and contributing to the European Union's (EU) policy instruments. This paper presents the evolution of BI thinking inside the EC, illustrates how BI are introduced in the policy cycle, and explores future challenges to and opportunities for mainstreaming BI at every level and stage of policy-making in the EU.

show abstract

How Can Behavioural Insights Be Used to Improve EU Policy?

Cited by 27 publications

References 0 publications

Trusting nudges? Lessons from an international survey

Trusting nudges? Lessons from an international survey

Trusting Nudges? Lessons from an International Survey

The evolution of behaviourally informed policy-making in the EU

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About