ASTK12319U Course: Political behaviour design: Theories and Methods

Volume 2014/2015
Education
Bachelorlevel: 10 ECTS
Masterlevel: 7,5 ECTS

SRM - Elective course: 7,5 ECTS
Content

Behavioural economics examines why and how individual decision making often deviates significantly and systematically from what one would predict from the conventional assumptions of full rationality. The importance of behavioural economics was amplified when psychologist Daniel Kahneman was awarded the Nobel Prize in economics in 2002 for his research within behavioural economics.

Since successful public policy requires a deep understanding of human behaviour, this rather emerging field located at the intersection of cognitive psychology and neoclassical economics is of significant relevance to the development and implementation of public policy.

In both the US and UK, this has been recognized by leading scholars and practitioners for the last 6-8 years. A new regulatory paradigm – often pronounced behavioural public policy or behavioural design - seems to be emerging, adding an alternative perspective to the traditional methods within public policy.

The most striking example comes from the UK. A few years ago, Prime Minister David Cameron established a special unit called The Behavioural Insights Team. In 2014, a strategic partnership with the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University was launched. Additionally, President Obama has launched a somewhat similar initiative in the United States.

Inspired by this significant development between policy and academia, this course provides an introduction to applied behavioural public policy, with a particular focus on theories and methods applied by governments across the globe. Due to the empirical orientation of the course, a number of cases will play a vital part in the discussions. 

Learning Outcome

The course aims to provide a thorough introduction to behavioural public policy, with a particular focus on the ability to:

  • Understand and explain key terms and concepts within behavioural public policy
  • Critically assess the strengths and limitations of behavioural public policy
  • Evaluate the relevance and possible effects of applying behavioral public policy to different societal challenges
  • Discuss how and to what degree behavioural public policy provides a genuine public sector innovation compared to more traditional forms of regulation

A detailed and complete reading list - including suggestions for further background literature - will be available at the start of the semester. The list below serves to give the interested student an idea of the course content.

Applying Behavioural Insights to Reduce Fraud, Error and Debt (2012)

Bavel, R., Hermann, B., Eposito, G., and Proestakis A. (2013). Applying Behavioural Sciences to EU Policy Making, Luxembourg

Darling, M., Datta, S., and Mullainathan, S. (2013). The Nature of the BEast: What Behavioral Economics is Not

Datta, S., and Mullainathan, S. (2012). Behavioral Design. A New Approach to Development Policy

Dolan P. et al. (2010). MINDSPACE. Influencing Behaviour Through Public Policy, London

Goldacre, B. Haynes, L., Torgerson, D., and Service, O. (2012). Test, Learn, Adapt. Developing Public Policy with Randomised Control Trials, London

House, J., and Lyons, E. (2013). Towards a Taxonomy of Nudging Strategies, Toronto

Issenberg, S. (2012). The Victory Lab. Random House

Jervelund, C., and Ringggard, R. (2013). Nudging Business Policy. Making it Easy to Do The Right Thing, Copenhagen

Kahneman, D. (2013). Thinking Fast and Slow. Penguin Books

Ly, K., Mazar, N., Soman, D., and Zhao, M. (2013). A Practitioner’s Guide To Nudging, Toronto

Oliver, A. (ed). (2013). Behavioural Public Policy. Cambridge University Press

Shafir, E. (ed.). (2012). The Behavioral Foundations of Public Policy. Princeton University Press

Sunstein, C. (2013). Simpler: The Future of Government

Sunstein, C., and Thaler, R. (2008). Nudge. Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness, Yale University Press

Tversky, A., and Kahneman, D. (1974). Judgment under Uncertainty: Heuristics and Biases

Tversky, A., and Kahneman, D. (1984). Choices, Values, and Frames American Psychologist, Vol. 39(4), Apr 1984, 341-350

First and foremost, the course requires the ability to and interest for the challenges of increasing the efficiency and quality of public policy applying insights from behavioural economics. Therefore, the course is particularly aimed at students who intend to work with public policy in a broad sense. As such, it has relevance for both future government officials and analysts providing consultancy for the public sector. The course gives the students practical knowledge about an emerging field moving closer to becoming part of future, mainstream regulation by providing a deeper and more sophisticated understanding of what actually drives the behaviour of both the public bureaucracy and the citizens themselves.
The course combines teacher and student presentations with different exercises. If possible, guest lectures by relevant experts and/or practitioners will take place.
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 28
  • Course Preparation
  • 105
  • Exam
  • 0,5
  • Exam Preparation
  • 50
  • Exercises
  • 7,5
  • Preparation
  • 15
  • Total
  • 206,0
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination
Synopsisexam
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Criteria for exam assesment
  • Grade 12 is given for an outstanding performance: the student lives up to the course's goal description in an independent and convincing manner with no or few and minor shortcomings
  • Grade 7 is given for a good performance: the student is confidently able to live up to the goal description, albeit with several shortcomings
  • Grade 02 is given for an adequate performance: the minimum acceptable performance in which the student is only able to live up to the goal description in an insecure and incomplete manner