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  • Published: 27 August 2015
  • ISBN: 9780753551387
  • Imprint: Virgin Digital
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 432

Inside the Nudge Unit

How small changes can make a big difference




Life changing lessons from the Behavioural Insight Team (BIT) or ‘Nudge Unit’, the unconventional multi-million pound saving initiative that makes a big difference through influencing small, simple changes in human behaviour.

With a foreword by Richard Thaler, winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics!

New Updated Edition, 2019.

Dr David Halpern, behavioural scientist and head of the government's Behavioural Insights Team, or Nudge Unit, invites you inside the unconventional, multi-million pound saving initiative that makes a big difference through influencing small, simple changes in our behaviour. Using the application of psychology to the challenges we face in the world today, the Nudge Unit is pushing us in the right direction. This is their story.

  • Published: 27 August 2015
  • ISBN: 9780753551387
  • Imprint: Virgin Digital
  • Format: EBook
  • Pages: 432

About the author

David Halpern

Dr 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.

The work of BIT has led to numerous changes in government policy – from different ways of spending and saving money, to changes in regulation and legislation – and above all, to remarkable results.

Praise for Inside the Nudge Unit

A must-read account of one of the Cameron government's best innovations. Inside the Nudge Unit is a brilliant guide to making any organisation not just more effective, but more human

Steve Hilton, former Senior Advisor to David Cameron and author of More Human

David Halpern has written a magnificent book about a revolution at the heart of the British government. It's a riveting tale - and essential reading for anyone who wants to know how to make big changes happen

Rohan Silva, former Senior Advisor to David Cameron and co-founder of Second Home

David Halpern presents a masterclass on how to embed behavioural insights into the fabric of an organisation. This book is full of numerous examples on not just excellent behaviourally informed programs as well as terrific practical advice on how to get these programs up and running!

Dilip Soman, India Innovation Institute

Intriguing

The Sunday Times Culture Magazine

Nudging has gone mainstream and this book explains how this happened and where it goes next. It is a must read for all interested in government policy but also a fascinating read for all who want to know why we behave as we do.

Sir Gus O'Donnell, former Cabinet Secretary

If you want to understand how things work – or, as is more often the case, how they don’t – David Halpern’s Inside the Nudge Unit explains how to change people’s behaviour in subtle but profound ways. Politicians of all parties, whether winners or losers this year, could learn from it.

Guardian

Offers a penetrating insight into the potential of behavioural mechanics - one that shows how Halpern and his team are, by degrees, upgrading government's slow and fast brains, and revealing what really works.

The Times Literary Supplement

There is no better guide to governance in the twenty-first century

Cass C Sunstein, co-author of Nudge

Offers a penetrating insight into the potential of behavioural mechanics, revealing what really works

The Times Literary Supplement

A stunning book – thrilling, eye-opening and deeply informative

Alain de Botton

Explains how to change people's behaviour in subtle but profound ways. Politicians of all parties could learn from this book

Guardian