Overview

The Institute aims to advance the study of the behavioural dimensions of public policy with a focus on sustainable development.

Empirical studies such as field experiments and surveys as well as, conceptual research are advancing methodology and theory within the field. The lab performs evidence synthesis and the use of social data science to help answer relevant questions.

The EEI draws on an established network of international collaborations which strengthen the impact of research of Cambridge Judge Business School, and of contributing departments and faculties at the University of Cambridge.

Core areas of activity

1

Examining the many factors that drive human decision making and its implications for economic policy.

2

Taking a multi-disciplinary approach to research, working collaboratively across the University of Cambridge and internationally.

3

Creating an intellectual hub where diverse voices are nurtured, and findings are disseminated globally.

Collaborations with leading behavioural research hubs
  • Harvard Law School
  • Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change (MCC)
  • Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University
  • Copenhagen Business School (BeaCon, Novo Nordisk Foundation)
Engagements with leading practice partners in behavioural insights and sustainability
  • Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) UK
  • OECD Network of Behavioural Insights Experts in Government
  • WHO Behavioural Unit
  • World Bank Innovation Hub
  • EU Joint Research Centre

Key audiences

Academics, researchers and students, who are interested in: 

  • behavioural economics, psychology, behavioural sciences, management studies, data science 
  • engaging in behavioural research and solving policy problems
  • working collaboratively across different disciplines, utilising solid methodological skills

EEI aims to design and deliver high-quality academic work, published in prestigious international academic journals. Research will also be made available to external audiences: 

  • the wider public: through general media outlets
  • policymakers: seeking to inform evidence-based policymaking through publications, collaborating on papers, convening joint events
  • business leaders and civil society organisations: advising on the application of behavioural insights

Research projects

Young door-to-door volunteers talking to senior woman and taking a survey at her front door.

Behavioural economics: methods and concepts

Experimental techniques to investigate the underlying mechanism of decision-making and cooperation in social and environmental problems.

Self-personalisation vs other-personalisation

Comparing 2 strategies to address those self-control limitations that act significant barriers to making sustainable food choices.

Project lead: Malte Dewies (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Paul Lohmann (University of Cambridge) | Lucia A Reisch (University of Cambridge)

Ambiguity aversion and energy saving behaviour: the impact of (non-)monetary interventions

Examining energy-saving behaviour under different behavioural interventions.

Project lead: Atiyeh Yeganloo (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Lory Barile (University of Warwick) | Lucia A Reisch (University of Cambridge)

Choice overload in charitable giving

Looking at how the choices presented by development/fundraising teams to potential donors – on how and where funding can be used – affect giving behaviour.

Project lead: Atiyeh Yeganloo (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Juvaria Jafri (University of East Anglia) | Cahal Moran (LSE)

Probability biases in repeated prisoner’s dilemma game

Providing evidence that biases attributed to the perception of probabilities affect cooperation levels in repeated games.

Project lead: Atiyeh Yeganloo (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Horst Zank (University of Manchester)

Wicker basket containing a range of organic vegetables from the garden.

Food, health and well-being

Interventions and behavioural insights that adapt the food system for the future and improve health and well-being.

CamEATS ZERO: Sustainable Food Initiative

Assessing the effectiveness of one of the 4 actions of CamEATS ZERO, a sustainable food initiative launched in February 2024 at the University of Cambridge.

Project lead: Lucia A Reisch (University of Cambridge)

Quantifying renewable energy externalities in the UK

Evidence from subjective and objective well-being data.

Project lead: Paul Lohmann (University of Cambridge)

Analysing the effects of climate on subjective well-being in Germany and the UK

Questioning whether there is a relationship between local temperature changes and subjective well-being.

Project lead: Micha Kaiser (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Alfonso Sousa-Poza (University of Hohenheim) | Marco Sousa-Poza (Radboud University)

Association between commuting and cardiovascular disease (CVD): a biomarker-based analysis of cross-sectional cohort data

Estimating the influence of active and passive commuting modes and commuting distance on CVD-related biomarkers as measures of health outcomes/

Project lead: Micha Kaiser (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Jan M Bauer (Copenhagen Business School) | Steffen Otterbach (University of Hohenheim) | Lucia Reisch (University of Cambridge) | Alfonso Sousa-Poza (University of Hohenheim)

Evidence synthesis

Shifting consumers towards sustainable food consumption and avoiding food waste: a machine-learning assisted systematic review and meta-analysis of demand-side interventions.

Project lead: Paul Lohmann (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Jan M Bauer (Copenhagen Business School) | Bruna Carvalho (Copenhagen Business School) | Alice Pizzo (Copenhagen Business School) | Lucia A Reisch (University of Cambridge)

Global herd behaviour and the effect on individual investments

Looking beyond local interaction between individuals and instead at how ‘global’ or ‘macroscopic’ herd inputs influence individual investment behaviour in a lending-based crowdfunding context.

Project lead: Micha Kaiser (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Fumiko Kano Glückstad (Copenhagen Business School) | Kristian Roed Nielsen (Copenhagen Business School)

How much of the well-being U-shape over the lifespan can be explained by life events and adaptation processes?

Modelling well-being over the lifespan by varying the frequency of experienced life events, their effect on well-being, and the adaptation processes following these events

Project lead: Micha Kaiser (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Jan M Bauer (Copenhagen Business School)

Policy evaluation: carbon footprint information

Carbon footprint information provision and labelling in restaurants: 2 field experiments with a UK-based Italian restaurant brand.

Project lead: Paul Lohmann (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Elisabeth Gsottbauer (London School of Economics) | Andreas Kontoleon (University of Cambridge) | Lucia A Reisch (University of Cambridge)

Policy evaluation: online takeaways

Making takeaway food choices more sustainable: the impact of behaviourally informed interventions on sustainable food choices.

Project lead: Paul Lohmann (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Elisabeth Gsottbauer (London School of Economics) | Lucia A Reisch (University of Cambridge) | Behavioural Insights Team

Policy evaluation: subsidies and labels

Carbon footprint labelling and sustainable food subsidies: a large scale field experiment with 13 university cafeterias.

Project lead: Clara Ma (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Sanchayan Banerjee (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) | Lee De Wit (University of Cambridge) | Paul Lohmann (University of Cambridge) | Theresa Marteau (University of Cambridge) | Lucia A Reisch (University of Cambridge)

Relationship between psychological characteristics, socioeconomic status and carbon footprint

Examining the connection between environmental attitudes, socioeconomic status, and demand for CO2 (carbon emissions/carbon footprint).

Project lead: Micha Kaiser (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Malte Dewies (University of Cambridge) | Lucia A Reisch (University of Cambridge)

Calculating how much an item of clothing costs per wear.

Behavioural interventions for sustainable consumption

Experimental approaches to examine interventions that improve sustainable decision-making in consumption.

Compulsive buying in Germany

A longitudinal trend analysis.

Project lead: Lucia A Reisch (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Gerhard Raab (Ludwigshafen University of Applied Sciences) | Sorin Thode (University of Cambridge)

The influence of cost-per-wear information on consumers’ purchase decisions

Examining how cost-per-wear information promotes sustainable fashion by nudging consumers to purchase high-quality options.

Project lead: Lisa Eckmann (Goethe University Frankfurt)
Collaborators: Fabian Rüger (Goethe University Frankfurt) | Lucia A Reisch (University of Cambridge)

People traveling by airplane during COVID 19, wearing N95 face masks, carrying luggage and waiting in line at airport terminal, keeping distance.

Behavioural public policy

Innovations and insights for the interface between behavioural science and public policy.

Anchoring climate-friendly food options

Interventions, mechanisms and cultural differences.

Project lead: Paul Lohmann (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Elisabeth Gsottbauer (Free University Bolzano) | Christina Gravert (Copenhagen University) | Lucia A Reisch (University of Cambridge)

How does the perception of human nature affect climate action?

A cross-cultural study of present bias and pro-environmental behaviour.

Project lead: Malte Dewies (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Atiyeh Yeganloo (University of Cambridge) | Lucia A Reisch (University of Cambridge) | Aiswarya Sunil (University of Cambridge)

Behavioural insights units around the world

Examining the approaches and impact of behavioural insights units.

Project lead: Malte Dewies (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Lars Tummers (Utrecht University) | Semiha Denktaş (Erasmus University Rotterdam) | Kirsten Rohde (Erasmus University Rotterdam) | Inge Merkelbach (Erasmus University Rotterdam)  

Classification of behaviourally informed interventions

Aiming to develop an extended and context-rich classification of BIIs.

Project lead: Malte Dewies (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Lucia A Reisch (University of Cambridge)

Views on behaviour and policy preferences

Aiming to activate different views on behaviour and study their influence on policy preferences.

Project lead: Malte Dewies (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Lucia A Reisch (University of Cambridge) | Lee de Wit (University of Cambridge)

White electric SUV recharging in parking garage.

Sustainable business models and organisations

Partnerships to promote sustainability transitions of business and society.

The BEACON project

Behavioural insights for a circular society.

Project lead: Lucia A Reisch (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Copenhagen Business School | Malte Dewies (University of Cambridge) | Paul Lohmann (University of Cambridge)

Sustainable behaviour at work: nudging employees to choose electric vehicles

Exploring the application of nudging as management practice to promote employee behaviour change for corporate sustainability.

Project lead: Lucia A Reisch (University of Cambridge)
Collaborators: Leonie Decrinis (Copenhagen Business School) | Wolfgang Freibichler (Porsche Consulting) | Micha Kaiser (University of Cambridge) | Cass R Sunstein (Harvard Law School)

Completed projects

Digital reset: redirecting technologies for the deep sustainability transformation

Effective governance of digital technologies can contribute to ambitious goals for social and environmental sustainability.

Editor: Digitalization for Sustainability (D4S)
Lead authors: Steffen Lange, Tilman Santarius
Authors: Lina Dencik | Tomas Diez | Hugues Ferreboeuf | Stephanie Hankey | Angelika Hilbeck | Lorenz M Hilty | Mattias Höjer | Dorothea Kleine | Johanna Pohl | Lucia A Reisch | Marianne Ryghaug | Tim Schwanen | Philipp Staab

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