Nudging, Not Forcing: Understanding Behavioural Economics and Nudging to Influence Collective Action
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
8:30am-12:30pm NDT
McCann Centre , Education Building (ED-2030B)
Memorial University, St. John's, NL
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Governments, civil society and large organizations around the world are searching for simpler, more cost-effective measures to achieve improved outcomes. As one means to achieving policy and strategy objectives, governments and other institutions are using simple, low-cost and choice-preserving approaches called “nudges” that draw on the field of behavioural economics (BE). The implications of behavioural economics are far-reaching, and its ideas have been applied to various domains, including personal and public finance, health, energy, public choice, and marketing; but essentially, BE suggests that human decisions are strongly influenced by the way in which choices are presented. (One of the most popular examples is the way in which some governments have made very small changes in driver registration forms which have contributed to increased organ donations.)
The challenge today for policy makers and senior executives is to make people’s lives easier by getting rid of unnecessary complexity. For example, how can we best encourage (i.e. nudge) people to save more for retirement, eat healthier, work smarter, volunteer more, etc.? What aspects of the “choice architecture” can be changed to alter people’s behavior in a predictable way without forbidding any options or significantly changing their economic incentives?
This workshop, hosted by PolicyNL and the Harris Centre, will be of interest to policy advisors, regulators, senior executives of non-governmental organizations and post-secondary institutions, and other leaders in government and business, who are interested in gaining a better understanding of behavioural economics and nudging. Participants will have an opportunity to learn from experts, hear the perspectives of government executives and academics and exchange ideas with colleagues about the potential of nudging in their respective work environments.
Presenters:
- Dr. Julian House, Research Analyst with Ontario’s Treasury Board Secretariat and PhD student, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
- Dr. Travor Brown, Associate Dean (Research), Business Administration, Memorial University
- Dr. Martin Day, Assistant Professor of Psychology, Memorial University
- Dr. Brent Snook, Professor of Psychology, Memorial University
- Michael Harvey, Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy & Planning), Department of Health and Community Services
- Jackie Janes, Assistant Deputy Minister (Climate Change & Energy Efficiency), Executive Council
Light refreshments will be provided.
Metered and pay and display parking is available - see Campus Parking Map for details