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A manifesto for applying behavioural science

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  • Michael Hallsworth

    (Behavioural Insights Team)

Abstract

Recent years have seen a rapid increase in the use of behavioural science to address the priorities of public and private sector actors. There is now a vibrant ecosystem of practitioners, teams and academics building on each other’s findings across the globe. Their focus on robust evaluation means we know that this work has had an impact on important issues such as antimicrobial resistance, educational attainment and climate change. However, several critiques have also emerged; taken together, they suggest that applied behavioural science needs to evolve further over its next decade. This manifesto for the future of applied behavioural science looks at the challenges facing the field and sets out ten proposals to address them. Meeting these challenges will mean that behavioural science is better equipped to help to build policies, products and services on stronger empirical foundations—and thereby address the world’s crucial challenges.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Hallsworth, 2023. "A manifesto for applying behavioural science," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 7(3), pages 310-322, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:7:y:2023:i:3:d:10.1038_s41562-023-01555-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-023-01555-3
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Migchelbrink, Koen & Raymaekers, Pieter, 2023. "Nudging people to pay their parking fines on time. Evidence from a cluster-randomized field experiment," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    2. Carol Morris & Beth F. T. Brockett & Sara Selwood & Victoria Carr & Jilly Hall & Joelene Hughes & Bianca Ambrose-Oji, 2024. "Mainstreaming social sciences expertise in UK environment policy and practice organisations: retrospect and prospect," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. L. Lades & F. Nova, 2024. "Ethical Considerations When Using Nudges to Reduce Meat Consumption: an Analysis Through the FORGOOD Ethics Framework," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 47(1), pages 1-19, March.
    4. Bruns, Hendrik & De Laurentiis, Valeria & García Herrero, Laura & Listorti, Giulia, 2024. "Behavioural insights to reach European Union consumer food waste reduction targets," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    5. S. Mills & S. Costa & C. R. Sunstein, 2023. "AI, Behavioural Science, and Consumer Welfare," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 46(3), pages 387-400, September.
    6. Silvia Saccardo & Hengchen Dai & Maria A. Han & Sitaram Vangala & Juyea Hoo & Jeffrey Fujimoto, 2024. "Field testing the transferability of behavioural science knowledge on promoting vaccinations," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 8(5), pages 878-890, May.
    7. Mills, Stuart, 2024. "Deceptive choice architecture and behavioral audits: a principles‐based approach," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 122714, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    8. World Bank & World Health Organization, 2024. "Behavioral Science Around the World Volume III," World Bank Publications - Reports 41640, The World Bank Group.
    9. Chlond, Bettina & Goeschl, Timo & Kesternich, Martin & Werthschulte, Madeline, 2024. "Transporting behavioral insights to low-income households: A field experiment on energy efficiency investments," Working Papers 0755, University of Heidelberg, Department of Economics.
    10. Antinyan, Armenak & Corazzini, Luca, 2025. "Breaking the bag habit: Testing interventions to reduce plastic bag demand," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 228(C).

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