Applying Behavioural Insights to Public Policy: An Example From Rotterdam

Abstract

Worldwide, scholars and public institutions are embracing behavioural insights to improve public policy. Multiple frameworks exist to describe the integration of behavioural insights into policy, and behavioural insights teams (BITs) have specialised in this. Yet, it often remains unclear how these frameworks can be applied and by whom. Here, we describe and discuss a comprehensive framework that describes who does what and when to integrate behavioural insights into policy. The framework is informed by relevant literature, theorising, and experience with one BIT, the Behavioural Insights Group Rotterdam. We discuss how the framework helps to overcome some challenges associated with integrating behavioural insights into policy (an overreliance on randomised control trials, a limited understanding of context, threats to good scientific practice, and bounded rationality of individuals applying behavioural insights).