Behavioural Insights Projects

To reduce calf mortality rates, the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) developed various letters for distribution amongst three subgroups of dairy farmers. The impact measurement shows that calf mortality decreased in the overall target group, although the letters did not produce any measurable outcomes. Why this experiment was conducted: calf rearing necessitates a significant amount of care Failure to ensure appropriate care for animals in dairy farming operations…

Institution: Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority

Challenge Many eligible college students fail to apply for financial aid offered by the federal government altogether. Of those who do apply, many more reduce their chances of receiving aid by failing to apply by the priority deadline. In the 2013-2014 school year, more than 80% of students at Arizona State University who filed their financial aid applications did so after the priority deadline had passed, which can result in a lower aid package. This project’s goal was to increase the number…

Institution: Ideas42

Team: Ideas42

To support building the pipeline of skilled workers in Ontario, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD) introduced the Skilled Trades Strategy (STS) in 2020 which aims to modernize the skilled trades and apprenticeship system by breaking the stigma and attracting more young people to the skilled trades, simplifying the system, and encouraging employer participation. In collaboration with MLITSD, the Ontario Behavioural Insights Unit (BIU) plans to run a…

Institution: Ontario Public Service (OPS)

Team: Behavioural Insights Unit

More than 480 000 people in Ile de France use an inefficient woodheating device releasing high quantities of particulate matters in the environment but do not always link air pollution and woodheating. This project aimed to inform the inhabitants about this link and encourage them to renew their ancient devices and adopt good practices around woodheating. 281 households were equiped with particulate matter sensors and the DITP compared the evolution of contamination between groups, divided in…

Institution: Direction Interministérielle de la Transformation Publique (DITP)

Team: Equipe Sciences Comportementales

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

The purpose of this survey is to better understand Canadians’ perceptions, knowledge and decision-making related to home energy labels and to explore different design features and information presentations that may drive energy-efficient choices.

Institution: Privy Council Office

Team: Impact and Innovation Unit (IIU)

In Indonesia, as in other countries, a large proportion of tax returns are filed at the last minute. In a population-wide randomised controlled trial (n = 11,157,069), we evaluated the impact of behavioural email prompts on the proportion of annual tax returns filed at least two weeks before the deadline; and overall filing rate. In two control conditions, taxpayers either received no email or an email used in prior years, emphasising regulatory information. The five treatments informed by…

Institution: Other

The Charter of Rights and Responsibilities of Financial Consumers is an initiative designed to counteract consumers' optimism bias and the information asymmetry that typically favors banks over users. To address these behavioral and structural challenges, the initiative employs smart disclosure techniques, including the use of visual prominence and icons to guide users' attention when interacting with the document. This charter is mandated to be displayed physically at bank branches, digitally…

Institution: Superintendency of Bank of the Dominican Republic

Team: Administrative Modernization Agency (AMA)

Challenge Conditional cash transfers are funds given to households if they fulfill certain requirements, such as sending their children to school. These cash transfers can boost households’ investment in health and education; however, they are expensive, and it is often complicated to track and enforce compliance with the requirements. Removing the conditions may make cash transfer programs more cost effective by decreasing administrative costs, while still providing a nudge to increase school…

Institution: World Bank

Team: eMBeD, Mind Behaviour and Development team

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)