Behavioral public policy bodies: New developments & lessons

Abstract

The field of behavioral public policy (BPP) has grown rapidly in the past 10 years, as is indicated by the rising numbers of BPP bodies that routinely apply insights and methods from behavioral science to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of public policy. This article reports on a count showing that between 2018 and 2024, the number of BPP bodies grew worldwide from 201 to 631 and increased on all continents. The article also summarizes results from a survey that asked representatives from 10 BPP bodies that varied by locale, political and cultural environment, and longevity to describe their group’s mission, functions, policy areas, challenges, and lessons for others. Common challenges include setting expectations, sustainability, and bridging the research–policy gap. Results from both the global analysis and the survey highlight that being in an “ecosystem” that includes outside advisors with experience in applying behavioral science and running local programs can enhance efficacy. Other lessons from the survey include the importance of focusing on solving problems rather than on applying a particular kind of intervention, being multidisciplinary (for example, by involving people with expertise in project management), designing for scale, presenting data in the context of a larger narrative, and formalizing operating procedures.