Inside the Nudge Unit: How small changes can make a big difference

Behavioral scientist Dr. David Halpern heads up the UK government's "Nudge Unit," the world’s first government institution that uses behavioral economics to examine and influence human behavior, to "nudge" us into making better decisions. Seemingly small and subtle solutions have led to huge improvements across tax, healthcare, pensions, employment, crime reduction, energy conservation, and economic growth. Adding a crucial line to a tax reminder brought forward millions in extra revenue; refocusing the questions asked at the job center helped an extra 10% of people go off their benefits and back into work; prompting people to become organ donors while paying for their car tax added an extra 100,000 donors to the register in a single year. Now David Halpern and the Nudge Unit will help you to make better choices and improve your life. The Nudge Unit has attracted widespread media and public interest—large pieces have run in the New York Times and Economist; and it's been subject to case studies and reviews by the Harvard Business School and Goldman Sachs.

David Halpern is currently Chief Executive of the Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) and the UK's National Adviser on What Works. Prior to this, David was Chief Analyst in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit (2001–2007), and has held academic positions at the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, and Harvard.