The Peter McCormack Show #036 - David Halpern - What is the Government Nudge Unit?
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Dec 31, 2024 David Halpern, President and Founding Director of The Behavioural Insights Team, dives into the impactful world of behavioral science in public policy. He discusses 'nudge units' and how subtle changes in policy can guide decision-making on pensions and health choices. Halpern also addresses the delicate balance between government intervention and free market principles, along with innovative education strategies like the Singapore Maths Mastery Programme. Ethical implications of tracking citizen behavior and trust in modern markets round out this engaging conversation.
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Pension Auto-Enrollment
- Auto-enrollment in pension schemes significantly increased participation rates by simplifying the process.
- This 'nudge' eliminated the need for complex forms, benefiting millions.
Data-Driven Governance
- Governments worldwide haven't been good at empirically testing their policies' effectiveness.
- David Halpern suggests a more data-driven approach to policy-making.
Social Norming in Tax Collection
- Adding a social norm message to tax payment reminders increased payment rates by 15%.
- This simple nudge highlighted that most people in the area had already paid.