Public and Social Policy Design

How we work

As part of academic studies or expert reports, the section collaborates closely with public and private organizations to identify and jointly design new, innovative policy instruments. To do this, we combine local, context-specific knowledge with the latest scientific insights from (behavioral) economics and other social sciences.

To test potential solution, we use causal research designs such as randomized evaluations and machine learning applied to large, linked administrative datasets. Additionally, we conduct tailored surveys that shed light on project-specific psychological factors. This enables us to establish robust scientific evidence on the impact of new policy instruments and the specific reasons why they work (or do not). For example, we shed light on questions like (i) which individuals benefit the most from a new policy instrument, (ii) which psychological mechanisms explain behavior changes, (iii) how cost-effective is a policy instrument, and (iv) to what extent similar policies could be adopted in other contexts.

What we do

Our current research projects develop innovative policy solutions to promote the social and economic integration of disadvantaged groups and on incorporating behavioral factors into the design of policy instruments.

Economic and social integration

We develop and test new programs that aim at improving the mental health of refugees and inmates and investigate whether they also promote their social and economic integration. Furthermore, we examine the short- to long-term consequences of legal restrictions to work for refugees and we collaborate with online job boards to help job seekers find relevant jobs more easily.

Human-centered design of policy instruments

We identify institutional and behavior-based barriers in the interaction between governments and citizens and design potential solutions, e.g., to improve the take-up of social insurance benefits or fairness and law-compliance in the criminal justice process. Furthermore, we provide evidence on the social and economic consequences of legalizing cannabis for recreational use and test accompanying measures to mitigate potential negative effects.