Behavioral Grooves Podcast Our Best Hope for Global Change | Faisal Naru
May 19, 2025
Faisal Naru, founder of Think, Test, Do, discusses the significant rise of behavioral science in public policy since 2010. He highlights how nations in the Global South are leveraging these insights to tackle complex issues like poverty and health. Naru advocates for embedding behavioral science teams within organizations for long-lasting change, moving beyond quick fixes. The conversation touches on the stark differences between Global North and South approaches and emphasizes the need for collaborative strategies in addressing wicked problems globally.
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Global Growth of Behavioral Units
- The explosion of behavioral science policy units grew from a handful to over 630 worldwide since 2010.
- This growth signals that behavioral public policy is an established global discipline, not just a trend.
North vs South Behavioral Focus
- Global South nations focus behavioral science on wicked problems like poverty and security.
- The Global North initially emphasized smaller implementation tweaks before shifting to larger problems.
Politics Shapes Behavioral Application
- Political culture shapes how behavioral science is applied, influencing the appetite for changing choice architecture.
- Legacy expectations and resource constraints also affect focus on either quick wins or systemic issues.
