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Behavioural science has come a long way - and so has BIT (Behavioural Insights Team). Over the past 15 years, BIT has developed many of the leading frameworks in the field, showcasing how behavioural science can improve outcomes for individuals, governments and businesses. But we’ve only just scratched the surface of what’s possible.

On Thursday 15 May, we heard from David Halpern, BIT’s founder and President Emeritus, for his inaugural annual lecture, where he discussed his new working paper exploring how behavioural and institutional insights are challenging classical economic models—and how this could reshape the future of economic policymaking.

Formerly CEO of BIT, David Halpern was Chief Analyst at the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit and the first What Works National Advisor, leading efforts to improve evidence-based policymaking across the UK government. He has held academic positions at Cambridge, Oxford, and Harvard and has written extensively on behavioural insights, including Inside the Nudge Unit. In 2023, he was awarded a CBE for public service.

This event was chaired by Professor Diane Coyle, Bennett Professor of Public Policy and Co-Director of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy. We heard about bold ideas and listened to insightful discussion and an in-depth exploration of the future of applied behavioural science.