ETHOS Issue 17
June 2017
Last updated 30 July 2026
ETHOS Issue 17, June 2017
Behavioural insights (BI) can lead to significant changes in behaviour and have a positive impact on policymaking and public service delivery. However, a BI approach is not an end in itself; neither is it the silver bullet to all our policy challenges. This issue explores how to better design choice infrastructure and improve the use of BI in combination with other tools.
Editorial
by Sharon Tham
Behavioural Insights (BI) have had a positive impact on policy making and the delivery of public services.
Nudging: Why, How, What Next?
by Kok Ping Soon
What does the use of behavioural insights mean for public policymaking and service delivery in Singapore? A practitioner shares his views.
Using Behavioural Insights to Improve Service Delivery
by Leonard Chen
More targeted approaches could address rising public expectations of service, and enhance policy outcomes.
‘Nudging’ Singapore to be Cleaner and Greener
by Jason Boh
Carefully chosen and tested behavioural interventions can complement traditional policy tools in cultivating more environmentally friendly habits and actions.
Using Behavioural Insights to Strengthen Enforcement
by Leong Wai Yan
Understanding why people are not acting and responding in a timely manner allows government agencies to implement nudges that can significantly improve compliance rates.
Healthy Living, Everyday
by Vanessa Tan, Vasuki Utravathy and Chew Ling
Nudges have been shown to help Singaporeans form healthier habits and make more informed lifestyle choices.
Data Science in Public Policy — The New Revolution?
by Do Hoang Van Khanh
Data science tools are likely to revolutionise policymaking, but human intervention is still key to success.
Making Policies More Effective, Scalable, Customised and Sustainable
by Ho Teck Hua
Behavioural science has shown that a small nudge in the right direction can produce positive results with enormous benefits.
The Hidden Costs of Behavioural Interventions
by Walter Theseira and Ong Qiyan
Too many small nudges could lead to big problems, argue two social scientists in Singapore.
Mindful Choice-Making
Interview with Eric Johnson
A behavioural insights veteran wants to make it easier for people to make the right informed choices for themselves.
Re-thinking Public Innovation
by Jocelyne Bourgon
The public sector should seek to transform not just itself but society’s broader capacity to generate new solutions for the common good.
The Making of Behavioural Economics
Reviewed by Charmaine Tan Huan Yuen
A pioneer’s account of the paradigm shift in economics offers compelling insights for the contemporary scholar and practitioner alike.
Plan for Behavioural Change, One Step at a Time
Reviewed by Leon Lim
Think Small: The surprisingly simple ways to reach big goals By Owain Service & Rory Gallagher Michael O’Mara Books Limited (2017); 230 pp.
Project Tap-out: Nudging Commuter Habits with Behavioural Insights
by Yap Jun Liang and Sharon Tham
A randomised field trial has helped identify key habits and motivations of concession bus riders.
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