Behavioural Science and Public Policy Launch

On September 8th, we will host a one-day workshop to launch our new programme on behavioural science and public policy at UCD Geary Institute for Public Policy. The programme is based at the Institute and works in conjunction with colleagues at the UCD School of Economics and College of Social Sciences and Law. The sign-up page for the event is here. The event will take place from between 9am and 430pm. Our keynote speaker will be Professor Peter John from UCL.

Event Programme 

9am to 930am: Registration, and Welcome

930am to 1045am: Presentations on Measurement in Behavioural Science and Policy

Lucie Martin (UCD): "Naturalistic Monitoring and Behavioural Public Policy".

Liam Delaney (UCD ): "Results of Nationally Representative Survey of Well-Being and Consumer Decisions"

1045am to 1115am: Coffee

1115am to 1230pm: Presentations on Economic Behaviour and the Lifecycle

Michael Daly (UCD and Stirling): "Self-Control, Economic Outcomes, and Well-Being Across Life"

Orla Doyle (UCD): "Early Intervention and School Outcomes"

1230pm to 130pm: Lunch

130pm to 245pm: Presentations on Ethics and Public Policy

Pete Lunn (ESRI): "Behavioural Economics and Regulation in Ireland"

Leonhard Lades (UCD and EnvEon): "Behavioural Science, Ethics, and Public Policy"

3pm to 430pm: Launch and Keynote Speaker Professor Peter John. " How Far to Nudge?: Behavioural Economics and Public Policy". 

See below for details of our new initiative: 

Research

- A behavioural science research centre based in the UCD Geary Institute of Public Policy around three main clusters of activity: measurement of economic behaviour; life-cycle models of economic behaviour; ethics of behavioural science policy. The development of these three key themes reflects the importance of a coherent measurement and ethical basis for policies based on behavioural economic ideas. Key workshops and kick-off meetings, along with funding opportunities, to develop these three areas will be announced here in due course.

- Widespread national research collaborations with other universities, public, and private bodies. Continuation of annual conference in this area to further promote whole-island network development. Programme for last year’s workshop available here (http://economicspsychologypolicy.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/9th-annual-irish-economics-and.html).

- Development of a cohort of full-time and part-time PhD students and postdoctoral researchers in this area based at the Geary Institute. ERC, IRC, and other Irish and European peer-reviewed funding sources will be the key method of financing the development of this cohort.

- Development of a European network on behavioural science, policy and ethics based in Dublin. The likely funding source for this will be either a COST or Marie-Curie application during the 2018 funding rounds.

- Development of a full plan for an Irish Centre for Behavioural Science and Public Policy to be funded from external sources within the first three years. The potential, in particular, for a bid to the SFI strategic research clusters initiative is one feasible strategy for this but other alternatives are being actively considered.

Teaching and Training
- An MSc in Behavioural Economics based in the UCD School of Economics. Widespread collaboration and module sharing with Psychology, Law, and other disciplines.

- Development of an undergraduate summer research internship programme based at Geary.

- Development of a series of executive education classes in behavioural economics aimed at regulators, executives, and policy-makers.

- Masterclasses in microeconometrics, behavioural economics, and statistics for graduate students and professional researchers.

- Regular seminars, reading groups, and workshops.

Industry and Policy Linkages
- A new AIB-UCD hub for research into consumer decision making. This new hub, funded by AIB, will explore the development of new ideas in the financial decision-making domain and their potential to lead to more active financial markets in Ireland. We will conduct several research projects on consumer financial decision-making and host workshops in this area in Dublin.

- Collaboration with Irish policymakers to develop the integration of behaviourally-informed ideas into Irish public policy.

- Collaboration with EnvEcon to develop the role of behavioural economics in environment policy decision making in Ireland.

- Collaboration with ESRI to develop the area of behaviourally-informed regulation in Ireland.

- Collaboration with Amarach Research to develop a range of studies with practical relevance to Irish businesses and policy-makers.

- Collaboration with Carr Communications to develop a number of applications of behavioural economics in the context of communications interventions in key policy contexts.

Knowledge Exchange and Impact
- Further development of the activities of the Irish Behavioural Science and Policy Network (http://www.irishbspn.org/).

- Development of the economics, psychology, and policy blog to further act as a widely used resource. (http://economicspsychologypolicy.blogspot.co.uk/).

- Collaboration with policy-makers to promote best practice in design and evaluation of behaviourally-informed public policies.