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In search of policy innovation: Behavioural Insights Teams in Australia and New Zealand
Author(s) -
Jones Stephen,
Head Brian,
Ferguson Michele
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
australian journal of public administration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1467-8500
pISSN - 0313-6647
DOI - 10.1111/1467-8500.12478
Subject(s) - government (linguistics) , perception , service (business) , service delivery framework , compliance (psychology) , public relations , business , public economics , marketing , management science , political science , economics , psychology , social psychology , philosophy , linguistics , neuroscience
Governments around the world have increasingly used experimental findings from behavioural trials to fine‐tune their service delivery policy models and their communication with citizens. In some areas of policy review, government teams have drawn on ‘behavioural’ methods, developed through Behavioural Insights (BI) and Behavioural Economics (BE) approaches, with a view to enhancing cost‐efficiencies and regulatory compliance. We compare the practices of several teams in Australia and New Zealand, based on 40 practitioner interviews with staff in governmental BI–BE units. We outline staff perceptions about the challenges and opportunities for BI–BE units in their quest to make positive contributions to policy innovation in the informational, regulatory, and service domains. In most instances, their focus has been on selecting specific researchable topics where experimental methods can be deployed, and where measurable positive changes are anticipated. Although benefits have been produced in many such areas, complex issues have not yet been tackled. However, BI–BE approaches could potentially contribute to broader teams addressing more complex problems.