Behavioural Insights Projects

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)

The Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) is a government-funded program for all permanent visa holders and some temporary visa holders who have less than a vocational level of English. Not all people who are eligible for the AMEP participate in it. The Department of Home Affairs commissioned BETA to evaluate the effectiveness of communication in participants’ home languages on increasing participation in the AMEP. Trial 1: We will send text messages to speakers of Mandarin, Cantonese,…

Institution: Prime Minister and Cabinet (PMC)

Team: Behavioural Economics Team of the Australian Government (BETA)

How does information on the job market affect the expectations and preferences of pupils in pre-vocational education? A large online platform for career development and career counselling provided pupils who were attending pre-vocational colleges with information on the career prospects of professions in which they are interested. This information resulted in pupils revising their expectations, and made them more likely to aim for jobs with better career prospects.

Institution: Behavioural Insights Network (BIN NL)

BETA Survey Series: Towards Net Zero – BETA will conduct a survey series to fill current information gaps and better understand barriers and enablers to making high impact household decisions that limit greenhouse gas emissions.

Institution: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Team: Behavioural Economics Team of the Australian Government (BETA)

Institution: Other

Team: Social and Behavioural Energy Research

Institution: Privy Council Office

Team: Impact and Innovation Unit (IIU)

Small businesses were sent behaviorally-informed emails encouraging them to apply to the Growth Vouchers program. A key part of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills’ (BIS) remit is to provide support to small businesses in the United Kingdom. BIS has explored a number of initiatives to help these businesses grow. One of these initiatives was ‘Growth Vouchers’ – a program of matched funding with a £30 million budget. Businesses could apply for funding to help subsidize the…

Institution: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)

Team: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)

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

All employees working in Australia are entitled to a minimum wage and minimum standards of employment. The underpayment of wages and entitlements is a serious social and economic issue which affects workers, businesses and the community. The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) uses audits to keep businesses on track—and we set out to see if these audits could be even more effective. The result was a win-win for workers, businesses and the community. Employees were $900 better off on average, instances…

Institution: Prime Minister and Cabinet (PMC)

Team: Behavioural Economics Team of the Australian Government (BETA)

The OSGG supports the Governor General in recognizing, promoting, and cultivating excellence by Canadians to strengthen our national identity, unity, and pride. Central to these goals is nominating and appointing Canadian Honours, such as the Order of Canada, which celebrate and reflect the diversity of exceptional contributions that Canadians have made to their country. Maintaining the relevance of these Honours is important to sustaining a shared Canadian identity, and consequently cultivating…

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

Team: Impact and Innovation Unit (IIU)