At a time when policy makers want to change the behavior of citizens to tackle a broad range of social problems, such as climate change, excessive drinking, obesity and crime, a promising new policy approach has appeared that seems capable of escaping the liberal reservations typically associated with all forms of regulatory action. The approach, which stems from the increasingly ubiquitous findings of behavioural research, is generally captured under the evocative concept of ‘nudge.’ Inspired by ‘libertarian paternalism,’ it suggests that the goal of public policies should be to steer citizens towards making positive decisions as individuals and for society while preserving individual choice.

1. BEHAVIOURAL RESEARCH AND
LIFESTYLE REGULATION:
‘NUDGES’ AND OTHER INNOVATIVE
PROPOSALS
Panel V
Alberto Alemanno
Adam Burgess

2. 1
What does behavioural research have to offer to
health, and more specifically, lifestyle
policymaking?

3. 2
How may behavioural research be turned into
lifestyle policymaking?
Please illustrate your answer with an example.

4. 3
How does behaviourally-inspired regulation
compare to other traditional forms of lifestyle
regulatory intervention
(e.g. taxes, marketing restrictions, bans, etc)?

5. 3 bis
Lifestyle regulation is characterised by a
coexistence of command-and-control and self-
regulatory interventions:
where do you believe the incorporation of
behavioural research might be more promising?

6. 4
What are the main challenges that you face in
promoting behaviourally-inspired approaches in
policy making?

7. 5
How do you respond to the classic criticisms
addressed to behavioural intervention
(lack of evidence, new paternalism, etc)?