Behavioral Public Policy and Economics GmbH
Resisting temptation can be a real struggle. Self-control problems are life-long companions to many people who often find it hard to adopt better eating or exercise habits, or to stick to other plans they have set for themselves. In turn, the ability to exert self-control helps people achieve their long-term goals.
Have you ever day-dreamed about winning the lottery? You can almost see yourself being happy until the end of your days, spending great holidays in paradisiac beaches while at the same time investing your money wisely to prosper. And what about if you got dismissed from your job for professional misconduct? You would not have time to feel sad or concerned – you’d apply to two or three amazing positions and would certainly get two (or even three!) offers.
A lot of behavioral interventions are expressly designed to be salient, that is, to grab your attention at the time and place where the desired action is made. Many safety campaigns around the world have been using this technique to reduce traffic accidents by displaying “sobering” messages on billboards. The widely held belief is that those messages can motivate drivers to drive more carefully.
Eid Mubarak, dear all. We wish you and your families a very happy and peaceful time.
It is estimated that billions of dollars in government benefits, which are important for reducing rising income inequality and fostering well-being, are forgone annually in the US by millions of people who are eligible for them. Among other reasons, this participation gap can be due to a lack of awareness, the complexity of the process, or the discomfort around asking for financial help.
The use of auto-renewals in free-trial offers, which seek to lure us into entering a long term subscription, has been exploding recently. But are these offers really successful in changing our subscription behaviors? Or are we gradually becoming suspicious and eventually immune toward them?
Eid Mubarak, dear all. We wish you and your families a very happy and peaceful time.
Are you an experienced researcher who believes that government policies should empower people to make better choices? Do you think that insight from behavioral experiments can help design policies that are closely aligned with people’s true preferences and preserve individual autonomy? If yes, then Anja wants to hear from you!
Cycling does not only improve your health but is also the most eco-friendly mode of urban transport. For these reasons, many countries have introduced financial incentives to encourage commuters to get on their bikes. But how effective are they in boosting cycling?
We wish you a blessed Ramadan 2022. May you celebrate it with your beloved ones being safe, well and happy.