The politics of public behaviour
This project is a chance to explore the tensions in the current debate between fostering a 'nanny state' and finding a response to some of the most pressing social issues of our time.
- I'm fine. Stop curing me | Mick Hume - Times Online Writes: 'As René Dubos wrote in 1960, “it is part of the doctor's function to make it possible for his patients to go on doing the pleasant things that are bad for them - smoking too much, eating and drinking too much - without killing themselves any sooner than is necessary”. There must be more to life than healthy living. Amid the talk of rights and responsibilities, one that gets ignored is the individual's right to make the “wrong” choices.' 4th January 2008
- Stumbling and Mumbling: Realistic policies Stumbling + Mumbling post with good link to the number of time a 'change of culture' has been called for to solve social problems... 12th November 2007
- Stumbling and Mumbling: Bansturbation: sub-optimal Chris Dillow on Pigovian taxes versus bans. 27th October 2007
- BBC NEWS | Scots smoke ban 'improved health' 'Professor Jill Pell, who headed the research team which made the findings, said: "The primary aim of smoking bans is to protect non-smokers from the effects of passive smoking. "Previous studies have not been able to confirm whether or not that has been achieved. What we were able to show is that among people who are non-smokers there was a 20% reduction in heart attack admissions. "This confirms that the legislation has been effective in helping non-smokers."' 27th October 2007
- Unveiled: radical prescription for our health crisis - Independent Online Edition > Health Julian Le Grand goes for Liberal Paternalism as the solution to public health issues: policies should be framed so the healthy option is automatic and people have to choose deliberately to depart from it 23rd October 2007
- Obesity Policy and the Law of Unintended Consequences Article from the USA skeptical about public health interventions. Argues that obesity may be a rational response to changing circumstances (technology/prices etc) 23rd October 2007
- Stumbling and Mumbling: Should green cars get tax breaks? Chris Dillow on some new research about 'image motivation': 'People act green in part because they want to be seen to be doing good - what Professor Ariely calls "image motivation." They buy the Toyota Prius in the hope others will think: "he's a good guy: he cares about the environment." But if you give more tax breaks to the Prius, others will stop thinking this, and instead think: "that guy's just taking advantage of a tax break." The signalling virtue of the Prius therefore falls.' 19th September 2007
- Yes, money talks ? but sometimes nobody?s listening | - Times Online Chris Dillow on incentives. Argues: 'incentives matter at the margin. But the margin needn’t be particularly wide. And many people aren’t on it'. Some good references and examples. 19th September 2007
- Public atttitudes, sticks + Carrots // The Spectator Blog Argues: 'Whenever there is a genuine combination of carrots and sticks proposed there is popular support for the ideas. So, 80 percent of people favour raising taxes on gas guzzling cars while reducing those on low emission vehicles. Equally, 83 percent support lowering stamp duty on energy efficient homes.'