Behavioural Economics in Action

The Behavioural Economics in Action cluster at the Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto focuses on using insights from behavioural sciences to address social problems in innovative ways. We believe that by understanding how changes in the environment or context can influence behaviour, we can design solutions that go beyond traditional approaches. Our approach is centered around non-financial and non-regulatory incentives that allow individuals to maintain their freedom of choice while guiding them towards better decisions. For example, we have found that framing a gym membership fee as a smaller monthly or weekly cost can nudge individuals to exercise more frequently. To achieve our goals, we collaborate with various agencies to share our research findings and develop new solutions. We provide information through white papers, talks, and courses, and also engage in student case competitions. Our primary methodology for delivering measurable results is through randomized controlled field experimentation. For more information about our work, please visit our website at http://inside.rotman.utoronto.ca/behaviouraleconomicsinaction/ or http://inside.rotman.utoronto.ca/bea/.