Behavioural Insights Projects

Despite the overwhelming medical evidence on the protection offered by the second, third and fourth doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, the acceptance of these doses remains low despite the existing supply. The problem is likely because there are currently no reminders in the province of Chaco, Argentina. This makes it difficult for residents to know if they are eligible for the next dose of the COVID-19 vaccine and where to access it. Booster vaccination is associated with a lower risk of mortality…

Institution: Other

Team: Behavioral Sciences and Public Policies Unit

This behavioural experiment with farmers assessed the effect of two policy features of the new green architecture of the EU common agricultural policy on the adoption of environmentally friendly practices: (1) increasing mandatory adoption and (2) shifting budget to voluntary schemes, by decreasing direct payments.

Institution: European Commission

Team: JRC Competence Centre on Behavioural Insights

This experiment involved making the information on the WBSO website clearer and more personally relevant to entrepreneurs. The visibility of the call-to-action was also enhanced. The study showed that entrepreneurs were prompted to spend more time exploring the possibilities offered by the Research and Development (Promotion) Act (WBSO) and that they read the information more carefully. Why this experiment was conducted: number of new applications below expectations The Research and Development…

Institution: Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy and Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO)

30% of the requests CNAM (Primary health care institution in France) receives by phone or email could be made and treated online. In order to encourage use of online services, the CNAM solicited help from the DITP. This dematerialization would benefit the user by easing the access to services, to the administration workers by improving their work conditions and to the institutions through gains in efficience. We chose to target a precise procedure: ordering a Carte Vitale (Health Care card) for…

Institution: Direction Interministérielle de la Transformation Publique (DITP)

Team: Equipe Sciences Comportementales

In a vignette survey, teachers in primary, secondary and post-secondary vocational education were asked whether they would like to work more hours − with and without incentives. The survey shows that their willingness to do so can be increased to varying degrees by offering them bonuses, additional employee benefits and a combination of both. Why this experiment was conducted: teacher shortages The government has identified significant staff shortages in primary and secondary education. It is…

Institution: Netherlands Ministry of Education, Culture and Science

In a move aimed at improving how it registers its development cooperation activities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs developed an application: IMPACT. This was successful in enabling budget holders to report activities more correctly: activities now have shorter names and are reported in English more often than previously. However, budget holders continue to use non-standard abbreviations. Why this experiment was conducted: reports do not always comply with appropriate standards The Ministry…

Institution: Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Saving while being overdrawn costs consumers money. The interest they have to pay is far more than the interest they receive. An experiment tested two interventions aimed at encouraging consumers to use their savings to clear any overdraft, by pre-entering a repayment amount and giving explicit information about costs. These interventions lead to better choices amongst many, although not yet all, consumers. Why this experiment was conducted: saving while being overdrawn costs Dutch citizens…

Institution: Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM)

In 2014, Tanzania’s regulators made the country the first in Sub-Saharan Africa to permit interest payments on mobile money wallets. Currently, annual interest rates range from seven to nine percent, four times greater than the average deposit in a US bank. Despite this, mobile savings balances remain low, especially among low-income users. In order to understand what influences the saving behaviors of low-income Tanzanians, our team, eMBeD, together with the Consultative Group to Assist…

Institution: World Bank

Team: eMBeD, Mind Behaviour and Development team

Behavioural science interventions advancing energy efficiency have mostly focused on consumer behaviour, with comparatively little work examining the important role that industrial consumers play in advancing the energy transition. Using the D.R.I.V.E.® framework, the project identified, analysed and consolidated the relevant literature and potential of behavioural science informed approaches to help SMEs become more energy efficient. Starting from a comprehensive review of the academic and…

Institution: Swiss Federal Office of Energy (SFOE)

Team: Affective Advisory

Waste management has become an issue of national concern in Bhutan; recovery and recycling are minimal, whilst landfills are overflowing. To address waste management issues, the Royal Government of Bhutan took up waste management as a flagship program under the 12th Five Year Plan which is being implemented by the National Environment Commission Secretariat (NECS), Royal Government of Bhutan. In support of the program, NECS, Thimphu Thromde (municipality) and the Gross National Happiness…

Institution: Behavioural Insights Team (BIT)

Team: Behavioural Insights Team (BIT)