In this episode, Brooke speaks with Elizabeth Linos, Michelle Schwartz Assistant Professor of Public Policy at the Goldman School at UC Berkeley. Drawing from her many years’ experience at the intersection of behavioral science and public policy, Elizabeth shares her insights around how the field has developed and what the future holds for behavioral researchers and policymakers interested in changing human behavior for social purposes. Some of the things discussed include:
- How low-cost or light-touch nudges sparked an interest in behavioral science amongst policymakers in the early days, and why we need to think further down the funnel to achieve the exact outcomes we desire.
- Instances where behavioral science can make a real impact, as well as times we need to be ‘real’ about how much it can really affect policy outcomes.
- Why the real challenge for behavioral scientists and practitioners is in persuading policymakers to adopt a holistic, experimentation approach to behavioral challenges, as opposed to ‘quick-win’ solutions.
- The case for a people-centered approach to behavioral policy design and why it’s important that researchers pay special attention to the experiences of frontline workers and not just the raw data.
- Immediate steps that policymakers and behavioral scientists can take in pursuing meaningful projects that address public policy challenges.