ABSTRACT
Influencing people’s behaviour is nothing new to government, which has often used tools such as legislation, regulation or taxation to achieve desired policy outcomes. But many of the biggest policy challenges we are now facing – such as the increased numbers of people with chronic health conditions – will only be resolved if we are successful in persuading people to change their behaviour, their lifestyles or their existing habits. Fortunately, over the last decade, our understanding of influences on behaviour has increased significantly and this points the way to new approaches and new solutions … To realize that potential, we have to build our capacity and ensure that we have a sophisticated understanding of what influences behaviour.
