General Information
Project description
The project had three aims. The first aim was to create a comprehensive catalogue of systematic, financially manageable behavioural interventions (including nudges and other interventions), as well as improvements to current processes and instruments of public administration at the local level in Slovakia. The second aim was to create a manual for the general application of behavioural knowledge to public administration practices, which includes a handbook for systematic and expert application of behavioural interventions intended to enhance the effectiveness of local public policies. The third aim of the project was to use behavioural knowledge to enhance the effectiveness of selected local public policies in partner municipalities. The project involved three universities in partnership with 4 municipalities.
We are pleased to present the results from one of the three universities who participated in the project, the findings from the team from the Faculty of Economics, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica (EF UMB).
The EF UMB team conducted 4 behavioral experiments in the city of Banská Bystrica in the areas of:
1. collection of taxes and local fees,
2. reduction of pollution of public spaces - discarded chewing gum on selected bus stops,
3. reduction of pollution of public spaces - cigarette butts at selected bus stop,
4. reduction of pollution of public spaces - overflowing garbage bins on the playground in a selected park.
The EF UMB team also analysed the possibilities of using behavioural interventions to increase citizen participation in the Green Housing Estates project. The recommendations, given that it was an ex-post analysis, were of a theoretical nature and can be used in the future in municipal planning. EF UMB also participated in the creation of a comprehensive catalogue of systematic, inexpensive, behavioral interventions (like nudges) and improvements to the current setup of public administration processes and tools at the local level, as well as a manual for the general application of behavioural knowledge in public administration in Slovakia.
Detailed information
Final report: Is there a final report presenting the results and conclusions of this project?
Pre-analysis plan: Is there a pre-analysis plan associated with this registration?
Hypothesis
Not applicable for the project as a whole, there were specific hypotheses for particular interventions
How hypothesis was tested
Not applicable for the project as a whole, there were specific hypotheses for particular interventions
Dependent variables
Not applicable for the project as a whole, there were specific dependant variables set for each intervention.
Analyses
Not applicable for the project as a whole, there were different types of analysis used for each intervention.
Sample Size. How many observations will be collected or what will determine sample size?
Depends on each intervention.
Additional information
Slovak Republic
Banská Bystrica
Who is behind the project?
Project status:
Completed
Methods
What is the project about?
Date published:
20 February 2026