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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The Independent reports that the unit "draws inspiration from the Chicago University professor Richard Thaler and his colleague Cass Sunstein, both form the University of Chicago, whose book Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth and Happiness is required reading for Conservative front-benchers" [5] Richard Thaler is an unpaid adviser to the Behavioural Insights Team. [6]
The projects undertaken by the group will not involve regulation but will promote individual choices and working with corporate and other private sector partners. [7]
Projects
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This article is part of the Spinwatch public health oriented Alcohol Portal project. |
- Reducing alcohol related harm, the work of the team is strongly influenced by Social Norms Theories and use evidence from America to support this approach. This approach has been used on many US college campuses and is being piloted in various UK projects. Social Norms approaches are heavily funded and favoured by the alcohol Industry (See National Social Norms Institute). The Welsh Assembly and the Drinkaware Trust are working together to deliver Social Norms pilots across Welsh campuses.[8]
- Promoting organ donation by using a system of 'promoted choice' where new applicants for driving licences and replacement licences will be asked to become organ donors in a bid to increase donor numbers. [9]
- Smoking cessation will be encouraged in a pilot run by Boots and supported by the Behavioural Insights Team and the Department of Health will encourage smokers to make a commitment to stop smoking. Participants will be tested to see if they are smoke free and subsequently rewarded. [10]
- Targeting obesity
- Car labelling
- Food hygiene
- Charitable giving
People
Gus O'Donnell | Oliver Letwin | Henry Ashworth | David Halpern | Richard Thaler
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, Behavioural Insights Team Applying Behavioural Insights to Health accessed 20th September
- ↑ Cabinet Office Applying Behavioural Insights accessed 21st September 2011
- ↑ Cabinet Office Applying Behavioural Insights to Health accessed 21st September 2011
- ↑ Cabinet Office Applying Behavioural Insights to Health accessed 21st September 2011
- ↑ Cabinet Office Applying Behavioural Insights to Health accessed 21st September 2011
