SP336 Half Unit
Behavioural Public Policy
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Prof Adam Oliver
Availability
This course is available on the BSc in International Social and Public Policy, BSc in International Social and Public Policy with Economics, BSc in International Social and Public Policy with Politics, Erasmus Reciprocal Programme of Study and Exchange Programme for Students from University of California, Berkeley. This course is freely available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. It does not require permission. This course is available with permission to General Course students.
This course is only available to third year undergraduate students.
This course is capped. Places will be assigned on a first come first served basis.
Course content
The application of behavioural economics and behavioural science to public policy issues has been, and continues to be, a major theme in the policy discourse internationally. This course offers students a thorough grounding in the theory and findings that define behavioural economics, from the major violations of standard economic theory to prospect theory and the theories of human motivation. The course goes on to consider the conceptual policy frameworks that have been informed by behavioural economics, with examples – so called nudge, shove and budge policies – illustrated so as to highlight how these frameworks are applied in practice. Students will also be exposed to the different behavioural-informed schools of thought that have prescribed divergent paths for public sector governance.
The course should interest anyone who is concerned with issues pertaining to social and public policy across any sector in any country. The literature consulted in this area is necessarily multidisciplinary, principally encompassing economics, psychology, political science, policy and ethics.
Teaching
15 hours of lectures and 15 hours of classes in the Winter Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Winter Term.
All teaching will be in accordance with the LSE Academic Code which specifies a minimum of two hours taught contact time per week when the course is running in the Autumn Term (AT) and/or Winter Term (WT). Social Policy courses are predominantly taught through a combination of in-person lectures and In person classes/seminars. Further information will be provided by the Course Convenor in the first lecture of the course.
Formative assessment
Essay plan in Winter Term Week 5
Students will be expected to produce 1 piece of coursework in the WT.
Indicative reading
The course text is: Oliver, A. 2017. The Origins of Behavioural Public Policy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
The above book consists of ten chapters. One chapter each week is essential reading. Additional readings will be given on the reading list, and via advice from the class teacher.
Assessment
Policy paper / report (100%, 2500 words) in Spring Term Week 2
Key facts
Department: Social Policy
Course Study Period: Winter Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 6
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: 14
Average class size 2024/25: 14
Capped 2024/25: Yes(15)Course selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
Personal development skills
- Self-management
- Team working
- Problem solving
- Communication
- Specialist skills