Nudging

for the SDGs

- Exploring the Potential of Behavioural Science
Insights for Policy Design

Prof. Dr. Shyama V. Ramani & Dr. Sanae Okamoto

United Nations University – MERIT
How can STI contribute to economic development?

Challenge driven
policy design have
some advantages…

But still stuck with

old problem: how
do we walk the talk
to make STI work for
SDGs?
How to attain the goals of a challenge at a national level?
The starting point – recognition of the complex system

Rest of the world

Developing country
Private
Foreign organizations
firms Local
firms
Public Labs &
Univs
Poor
State

Public Civil
agencies Society

3
 With games within games…..
2
1Rest of the world
Developing country
Private
Foreign organizations
firms Local
firms
Public Labs &
Univs
State State has
Poor
3
Public Civil
4
agencies Society

4
So within this systemic perspective - science, technology
and innovation can help to walk the talk…..
And for this we advocate..

1. Create
Capabilities, a
facilitating
environment

2. Apply

3. Watch impact
happen
Currently the STI community is focussed on…..

1. Create
Base line analysis, policy Capabilities, a
recommendations facilitating
environment

2. Apply

3. Watch impact
Impact evaluation happen
 What is missing?
Economic theory/ Economics/STI studies have given us great
insight on gaining engagement through contracts, policy design
and governance studies….

Monitoring
mechanism!

The carrot
reward!

The stick of
punishment!
 What is missing?
Economic theory/ Economics/STI studies have given us great
insight on gaining engagement through contracts, policy design
and governance studies….

Monitoring
mechanism!

The carrot
reward!

The stick of
punishment!
Behavioural Science can provide some
elements for gaining engagement
What is it? à Multidisciplinary field of science that
tries to understand human behaviour
What we (humans) are..
The intention – Action Gap
What we think we What we are actually
are going to choose going to choose

Behavioural Bias!
These biases (or irrationality) appear
systematically and predictably
 We behave as a function of the
environment/context that we are in.
Human behavior is at the core of the
challenge

… Changing human behavior isn’t easy so we need to

change the environment
à Nudge!
What is Nudge?

Nudge: ‘to seek the attention of by a push

of the elbow. to prod lightly. urge into action.’
Merriam-webster.com

Richard H. Thaler Cass R. Sunstein

2017 Nobel Laureate
in Economics
‘A nudge is any aspect of the choice architecture that alters
people’s behaviour in a predictable way without forbidding any
options or significantly changing their economic consequences. To
count as a mere nudge, the intervention must be easy and cheap
to avoid. Nudges are not mandates. Putting fruit at eye level
counts as a nudge. Banning junk food does not.’

Libertarian paternalism
Behavioural change interventions should be
built on the two pillars of behavioural science
Understanding human Create an environment
behavior (identifying where choices are
biases, underlying presented in a
causes of the different way
environment) è Choice architecture
Nudging Example: change the context to
reduce food waste (Kallbekken and Saelen, 2013)

↑
20% less food waste!
Note: Importantly, nudge is not exclusive. You can
add on to existing programs to enhance
effectiveness of programs.
Over 50 countries/states/organizations have developed
centrally directed policy initiatives that have been
influenced by behavioural sciences (Whitehead, 2014)
Speakers: Video commentaries

Professor Dilip Soman Mr. Luke Ravenscroft

Rotman School of Management International Programmes
University of Toronto, Canada The Behavioural Insights Team, UK
Director, BIT Singapore
 Special Video contribution

Dr. Ting Jiang Mr. Judson Bonick Professor Dan Ariely