Behavioural Insights Team
The Behavioural Insights Team was established by the Conservative and Liberal Democrats UK coalition government in 2010 to encourage individuals to adopt behaviour that benefits themselves and wider society. The team will devise ways to promote preferred behaviour by using behavioural economics and behavioural science in policy making.[1] There are plans to let the unit run for two years, winding down in summer 2012. [2] Based in the Cabinet Office the Behavioural Insights Team steering group is chaired by Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell who claims that the work done by the group "supports the Coalition Government’s commitment to reducing regulatory burdens on business and society, and achieving its goals as cheaply and effectively as possible" [3]
The team consists of academics and civil servants led by Dr David Halpern. "Halpern identified the origins of what is now BIT in "deregulatory thrust", in part linked to the Better Regulation Executive. He understands the team's role as raising awareness of "less cognitive, less familiar approaches" as alternatives to legislation, pricing mechanisms and advertising and social marketing".[4]
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This article is part of the Health Portal project of Spinwatch. |
The Independent reports that the unit "draws inspiration from the Chicago University professor Richard H Thaler and his colleague Cass Sunstein, whose book Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness is required reading for Conservative front-benchers" [5]
The projects undertaken by the group will not involve regulation but will promote individual choices and working with corporate and other private sector partners. [6]
Projects
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This article is part of the Spinwatch public health oriented Alcohol Portal project. |
- Targeting obesity
- Promoting organ donation
- Smoking cessation
- Car labelling
- Food hygiene
- Charitable giving
People
Gus O'Donnell | Oliver Letwin | Henry Ashworth | David Halpern |
References
- ↑ Cabinet Office Applying Behavioural Insights accessed 21st September 2011
- ↑ House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee Publications CHAPTER 5: THE GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO CHANGING BEHAVIOUR accessed 21st September 2011
- ↑ Cabinet Office Applying Behavioural Insights accessed 21st September 2011
- ↑ House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee Publications CHAPTER 5: THE GOVERNMENT APPROACH TO CHANGING BEHAVIOUR accessed 21st September 2011
- ↑ Martin Hickman 3rd January 2011, The Independent Nudge, nudge, wink wink... How the Government wants to change the way we think accessed 21st September 2011
- ↑ Cabinet Office Applying Behavioural Insights accessed 21st September 2011
