Behavioural Insights Projects

Washing your hands regularly with soap and water is an effective and easy way of reducing the risk of people falling ill with COVID-19, influenzas or a cold, or contracting other viral illnesses. Stickers and posters were developed focusing on reframing, nudging and habit stacking. Displaying the posters in the office environment led to an increase in handwashing amongst employees. Soap consumption went up. Why this experiment was conducted: improved hygiene standards in the workplace is the…

Institution: Netherlands Ministry of Justice and Security; Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport; and RIVM

In Ireland, grants for retrofitting homes with energy upgrade measures are available from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. Improved energy efficiency of households is an important aspect of Ireland’s climate emergency related targets. Barriers to retrofitting include a lack of understanding about retrofitting and the process, and a lack of awareness of grant availability. Community based social marketing (CBSM) might be an effective way of increasing uptake because it addresses…

Institution: Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI)

Team: SEAI Behavioural Economics Unit

Challenge Many people in developing nations have limited access to formal savings mechanisms, impeding their ability to save money and invest in agricultural inputs like tools and fertilizer that might help improve their crops. Among the many structural reasons for low savings rates (inaccessible banks, high transaction costs, distrust of financial institutions, lack of financial literacy), psychological barriers such as impatience or lack of self-control may also play a role. Additionally,…

Institution: World Bank

The 'Fit op jouw manier' (Fit your way) campaign aims to encourage overweight individuals to get after. The campaign successfully reaches the target audience, motivating them with tips that they then practice. For example, more people now regularly take the stairs instead of the life or escalator. Why this experiment was conducted: combating overweight and obesity The Prevention Agreement aims to reduce the proportion of overweight adults from 50% in 2018 to 38% by 2040. A healthy lifestyle…

Institution: Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport

Behavioural Additionality & Spillovers in the R&DTI Background This project aimed to understand the behavioural additionality effects of the R&DTI via a series of user interviews with companies currently engaged in R&D (including those participating and not participating in the R&DTI). Behavioural additionality goes beyond the traditional view of R&D additionality, which typically focuses on quantitative increases in inputs and outputs. Instead, behavioural additionality considers wider,…

Institution: Department of Industry, Science, Energy & Resources (Australia)

Team: Policy Lab

Overall, this research investigated how to enhance the effectiveness of multi-stakeholder collaboration in tackling climate change. By leveraging two socio-psychological theories – Self-Affirmation Theory (SAT) and Moral Foundations Theory (MFT),this study equipped facilitators with strategies to reduce identity threats, foster constructive dialogs, and ultimately contribute to the development of more effective solutions in the environmental domain.

Institution: Other

The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Latvia collaborated with the World Bank on a holistic review of the country's tax system, an input to the design of a new, improved tax strategy. The State Revenue Service (SRS), Latvia's tax authority, worked with the Mind, Behavior, and Development (eMBeD) Unit at the World Bank to pilot a field experiment to increase tax compliance. The experiment involved sending preemptive, behaviorally-informed email messages to taxpayers with a share of income…

Institution: World Bank

Team: eMBeD, Mind Behaviour and Development team

Air pollution is a serious health and environmental problem in many cities, including Pristina, Kosovo, where poor air quality is a frequent issue. Private cars and taxis are a major mode of transportation in Pristina, contributing significantly to both pollution and congestion, which is most problematic at peak traffic hours when individuals commute to and from work. To tackle this issue, ideas42 partnered with the UNDP Kosovo to design a behavioral intervention with the unifying slogan, "Give…

Institution: Ideas42

Team: Ideas42

In 2015 the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) released recommendations to move towards impact-based weather forecasts and warnings. These impact-based warnings will help increase lead-time for decision makers and the public, to ensure they are making the best choices to prepare for different types of weather events. Canada is currently in the process of adopting these recommendations by moving towards an impact-based tiered warning system for severe weather events. To assist in the…

Institution: Impact and Innovation Hub (IIU)- Impact Canada

Team: Impact and Innovation Unit (IIU)

This study focused on switching in payment accounts and mortgages, exploring the reasons why consumers do not switch and possible behavioural remedies.

Institution: European Commission

Team: JRC Competence Centre on Behavioural Insights