Amsterdam, Netherlands

Behavioural Public Policy

This hands-on course in Behavioural Public Policy will introduce students to the fundamental building blocks behavioural science and public policy⁠. The course is divided into four main parts: History of Behavioural Economic Thoughts, Theories and Tools of behavioural public policy, Methods for evaluating behavioural public policies, and BPP applications in three emerging fields: climate change and environment, misinformation, and public health (pandemics)⁠. The course will be delivered jointly in the form of lectures and seminars⁠/practicals to enable students to learn about and design their own behavioural public policies⁠.

Course leader

Dr. Sanchayan Banerjee

Target group

The course is open to graduates and working professionals. Master's students, PhD candidates, postdocs and working professionals are welcome to join. Applicants should have a background in social sciences and/or a keen interest to learn about it⁠.

Course aim

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
Understand the origins and antecedents of behavioural public policy (by reading two seminar journal articles in every lecture)
Apply quantitative (experimental and observational) methods of statistical data analysis to evaluate behavioural public policies
Identify socio-behavioural problems and develop relevant behavioural insights to develop behavioural public policies
Critically analyse public policies, and understand variability in public response to them⁠.
Explore challenges and limitations in using behavioural public policies and where necessary complement them using traditional tools of governance⁠.
Apply diagnostic knowledge to inform impact evaluation and evidence-based policy making (particularly in areas of climate change and environment, misinformation, and public health)

Fee info

EUR 930: Tuition fee

For 2 ECTS courses:
Students, PhD students and employees of VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC or an Aurora Network Partner: €580*
Students and PhD students: €680*
Professionals: €880*
Applications received before 15 October -€50 (Early Bird Discount)

For 3 ECTS courses:
Students, PhD students and employees of VU Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC or an Aurora Network Partner: €630*
Students and PhD students: €730*
Professionals: €930*
Applications received before 15 October -€50 (Early Bird Discount)

* Auditor participants receive €100 discount. Not available for all courses. Early Bird Discount is not valid on the auditor fee. Find out more under the section: Type of participation

The tuition fee includes: 
* Application and registration
* Exclusive course content for a limited number of participants
* Individual/group guidance from the course organiser
* Access to all online VU facilities such as the library and online learning environments
* A certificate of attendance after completing the course 
* A transcript of records, including the grade and the obtained ECTS
* The full support of the winter school team
* Optional social activities