Good Practice Principles For Ethical Behavioural Science In Public Policy for Common Good

by Oliviero Casale

Behavioural sciences have become increasingly central to public policy due to their ability to provide empirical data and insights into human nature, thus enhancing the effectiveness of government policies. The OECD document "Good Practice Principles For Ethical Behavioural Science In Public Policy" is a significant contribution in this field, outlining the best principles and practices for the ethical use of Behavioural Insights (BI) in public governance. This article explores the document's objectives, strategic points, and its connection to the common good.

Objectives of the Document

The primary objective of the document is to provide guidance for the responsible application of behavioural sciences in public policies. The growing adoption of BI in governments worldwide has necessitated the standardization and systematization of ethical processes to ensure these insights are used consistently and effectively. The document aims to:

1. Promote the ethical use of BI.
2. Provide guiding principles for integrating ethics into the design and implementation of interventions.
3. Ensure the protection, well-being, and safety of the public.
4. Offer practical tools for assessing and mitigating risks associated with BI interventions.

Strategic Points

1. Transparency and Stakeholder Involvement

One of the fundamental principles of the document is transparency. BI interventions must be as open as possible regarding their purposes, intentions, and objectives. Engaging relevant stakeholders, including vulnerable and marginalized groups, is essential to ensure interventions are fair and representative of all involved parties' interests.

2. Risk Identification and Mitigation

The document emphasizes the importance of establishing protocols for identifying and mitigating potential risks. This includes reviewing existing literature and consulting with experts to anticipate unintended consequences. Interventions must be designed to avoid discrimination or negative unintended effects.

3. Data Protection and Privacy

Data protection and privacy are crucial aspects. BI interventions must ensure that personal data is collected and used in compliance with privacy regulations, obtaining informed consent when necessary, and protecting the confidentiality of information.

4. Publication and Sharing of Results

To promote transparency and scientific integrity, the document encourages the publication and sharing of results, including negative or null results. This helps build a more robust knowledge base and avoids the duplication of errors.

The Connection to the Common Good

One of the most important aspects of the document is its focus on the common good. BI interventions must be designed and implemented with the aim of improving public well-being. This principle is clearly expressed in the document:

"Align BI interventions with the public’s interests. Agents of BI must make efforts to consider and incorporate the public’s best interests into every phase of the intervention, from ideation to implementation. This requires using recent data and literature to determine the desirable outcomes, identifying public support for leveraging BI approaches for the policy goal, and evidence to support how the individual behavioural change is conducive to greater common good (cf. Box 1.2).".

In other words, BI agents must ensure that every phase of the intervention, from ideation to implementation, aligns with public interests. This requires using up-to-date data and literature to determine desirable outcomes, identifying public support for leveraging BI approaches, and providing evidence that individual behavioural change contributes to the common good.

Conclusion

The OECD document "Good Practice Principles For Ethical Behavioural Science In Public Policy" offers valuable guidance for policymakers and BI practitioners, promoting the ethical and responsible use of behavioural insights. Through transparency, stakeholder involvement, risk mitigation, data protection, and result sharing, the document aims to ensure that BI interventions are not only effective but also fair and oriented towards the common good. By adopting these principles, governments can improve public well-being and build a more just and sustainable society.