Events

Nudge Lebanon & AUB’s Behavioral Economics and Public Policy Course to Build Capacity of Future Practitioners

For the third year, Nudge Lebanon, in collaboration with the American University of Beirut’s Economics department, is delivering a course on Behavioral Economics and Public Policy (ECON 303N/295K) to senior and graduate students. The course introduces students to the theoretical foundations of behavioral economics, and its practical aspects covering evidence-based policies and impact evaluations. As part of a final assessment, student groups will design and test several behavioral interventions addressing different policy challenges related to health, sustainability and transparency in Lebanon.

Behavioral Economics Community of Practice in Toronto – October 21, 2019

On 21st October 2019, a round table discussion was hosted by the Behavioral Economics in Action at Rotman (BEAR) at the University of Toronto, bringing together the Canadian behavioral economics community of practice to discuss applications of behavioral insights, share lessons learned and explore areas for potential collaboration.

In attendance were Dr. Fadi Makki, the founder of Nudge Lebanon and B4Development, and behavioral scientists and practitioners from the Behavioral Insights community of Canada including ideas42, PWC, Brianne Kirkpatrick, Senior Advisor at Behavioral Insights Team (BIT) Canada, BE works, Impact and Innovation Unit of Canada, Dr. Meera Paleja, Behavioral Scientist at Rotman School, University of Toronto , Julian House, Research Fellow at University of Toronto’s BEAR Research Hub, Nico Lacetera, Professor at the University of Toronto, and Kim Ly, Behavioral Economist at BEAR.

Dr. Fadi Makki discussed the scaling of behavioral insights across the Middle East, and shared updates on the latest experiments and studies being applied in order to tackle the policy challenges facing the region. During the session, Brianne Kirkpatrick, from BIT, recognized Nudge Lebanon’s impressive work and thanked Dr. Makki on his “thought-provoking and motivational insights”.

The session concluded with Dilip Soman, Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Science and Economics and Director at BEAR, thanking Dr. Makki for the “amazing work being done in the Middle East on behavioral science”.

Introducing Psychological Inoculation and the “Radicalize Game” for Preventing Violent Extremism – October 18, 2019

On 18 October 2019, Dr. Fadi Makki participated in an event held by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) New York Office, in partnership with the Permanent Mission of Qatar to the United Nations, B4 Development, and Generation Amazing, on using behavioral insights and sports in preventing violent extremism.

Several participants included H.E. Mr. Hassan El Thawadi, the Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Dr. Fadi Makki, Founder of Nudge Lebanon and Senior Advisor to the Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Mr. Nasser El Khori, Director of Programmes of the Generation Amazing program, and Professor Cass Sunstein, Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard, among others.

Jon Roozenbeek, PhD Student and Senior Research Affiliate at the Department of Psychology at the Cambridge University, introduced the theory of psychological inoculation and its applications in the ‘Radicalise Game’ that was developed in collaboration with Nudge Lebanon and B4Development for the purpose of preventing violent extremism.

Initial results of the game reveal significantly positive outcomes. The game will continue being rigorously tested in order to measure the effects of ‘psychological inoculation’ against radicalization.

Nudgeathon Workshop on the Applications of Behavioral Sciences to Address the Problem of Celebratory Shootings in Lebanon – October 10 & 11, 2019

Nudge Lebanon, in collaboration with the General Directorate of General Security held a two-day Nudgeathon workshop on the applications of Behavioral Sciences to address the problem of celebratory shootings in Lebanon. During the opening ceremony on Thursday, October 10th, 2019, at the General Security Headquarters, H.E Major General Abbass Ibrahim gave a welcome speech highlighting the importance of the government’s intervention in addressing the crime of celebratory shooting and Dr. Fadi Makki discussed the importance of leveraging insights from Behavioral Science and Nudging to tackle this issue.

On Friday, October 11th, various stakeholders representing NGOs, government agencies, municipalities, local communities, security forces and other relevant entities were split into 6 groups to work together and develop solutions to two main challenges: increasing the reporting of shooting incidents and encouraging invitees not to carry weapons, during wedding celebrations. At the end of the workshop, each group was responsible for presenting their Nudge idea to a jury of experts. The winning idea introduced a social media campaign showing influential leaders endorsing the law against celebratory shootings and displaying shocking images of stray bullet victims. In partnership with the General Directorate of General Security, discussions on the winning idea for potential experimentation is currently underway.

ESCWA Workshop on Applying Behavioral Science in Strategic Planning – September 19, 2019

On 19th September 2019, Nudge Lebanon delivered a workshop during  ESCWA’s 2nd regional meeting, bringing together the national focal points of the Development Account project “Towards the Arab Horizon 2030: Enhancing Integrated National Development Planning in the Arab Region” and other participants involved in the national development planning processes to  introduce them to the concept of behavioral economics and nudges, and their applications in the field of strategic planning.

The workshop was attended by the Chief of Economic and Planning Section at UN ESCWA in Lebanon and UN ESCWA staff, along with representatives of strategic planning councils across the MENA region including Jordan, Syria, Sudan, Oman, Mauritania, Iraq, and Lebanon.

Country members were introduced to the concept of behavioral science, the biases affecting human decision making, nudging and how small changes in the choice architecture can enhance decision making in the strategic planning context. Participants were also able to get a hands-on experience on how to analyze a specific policy challenge from a behavioral lens by working in teams to develop a behavioral map. Finally, the workshop introduced the toolkit that Nudge Lebanon and ESCWA are developing which provides practical means and tools to apply behavioural insights into the work of strategic planners.

Reducing littering on Tyre’s Corniche – August 24, 2019

Nudge Lebanon, in collaboration with Dr. Inaya Ezzedine, member of the Lebanese parliament, designed and conducted a behavioral intervention to address the issue of littering along Tyre’s corniche during a popular summer-time event held every Saturday, “شارع المشاة” , where the corniche is turned into a pedestrian-only zone with various activities. To tackle the littering problem, the Nudge Lebanon team distributed the existing bins along the corniche evenly to ensure equivalent accessibility to the bins. The team, then, randomly assigned bins to the treatment group, making them more salient by:

  • Covering the bins with colorful green wrap that included behaviorally informed statements, giving a cleaner look-and-feel
  • Attaching arrows with the same green color and message pointing down to the bins to attract pedestrians’ attention
  • Adding green footsteps from the middle of the street and towards the bins (in both directions) to lead pedestrians towards the bins; and
  • Placing green arrows from the side bench along the corniche pointing towards the bins to prime those who are sitting to use the bins.

The salience of the bins contributed to a 21% increase in trash weight per treatment bin, compared to the control bins that were kept without making any changes. Evidence from this experiment reveals that using salience or behaviorally informed messages in high traffic areas such as sidewalks or seaside promenades can be successful in attracting individuals’ attention, and encourage them to dispose of their trash in bins instead of throwing their litter on the street.

 Save the Children Workshop on Increasing Early Children Education Enrollment for Syrian Refugee Children – August 21, 2019

On August 21 2019, Nudge Lebanon hosted a co-design workshop to Save the Children on applying behavioral insights to increase the Early Childhood Education (ECE) enrollment of eligible Syrian refugee students – a new requirement by the Ministry of Education for children who want to enroll in Grade 1. The session was delivered at Save the Children’s offices and participants included the Country Director, members of their monitoring and evaluation team, as well as some program and field directors.

The workshop built the capacity of participants to tackle the challenge of low ECE enrollment rates of Syrian refugees using behavioral science. It exposed participants to tools and methodologies to help them identify the behavioral roots of the enrollment challenge, design behaviorally informed interventions to offset the identified challenges using Nudge Lebanon’s framework SHAPEDIFFERENCE, and to evaluate these interventions using Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs). The workshop culminated in a blueprint design of a behaviorally informed intervention to increase ECE enrollment, which Save the Children recently implemented with support from Nudge Lebanon.

Nudge Lebanon & Westminster Foundation For Democracy Workshop on Improving Cohesion and Trust – July 25 & 26, 2019

On the 25th and 26th of July 2019, Nudge Lebanon in collaboration with the Westminster Foundation For Democracy organized a workshop delivered by Dr. Umar Taj, behavioral and decision science expert, on behavioral and decision science to stakeholders in the oil & gas sector. The workshop’s goal was to build the capacity of civil society organizations to integrate behavioral insights and decision-sciences into their own work, achieve common coalition goals, and to enhance cohesion and trust among members of the oil & gas coalition using behavioral insights. Participants learned how to use behavioral science to understand the enablers and barriers to behavior change and decision making, and were engaged in several exercises on developing interventions to improve decision making.

Right to Access Information Workshop – May 30, 2019

On 30th May 2019, Nudge Lebanon delivered two workshops to representatives from various public entities on the Right to Access Information law at Le Bristol Hotel. Participants included representatives from Banque Du Liban, Ministry of State for Administrative Development, Ministry of Justice, Directorate General of Customs, Ministry of Economy and Trade, Directorate General of Antiquities, Civil Service Council, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry, etc.

Mr. Ghassan Mukheiber, a former member of parliament and the original author of the Right to Access Information Law, helped deliver both workshops to raise awareness on the law’s guidelines and its application.  Mr. Mukheiber concluded the workshop by discussing the importance of proper enforcement and compliance with the law by public entities, and its role in promoting transparency.

News

Applying Behavioural Science to Support the Prevention of Violent Extremism: Experiences and Lessons Learned

UNDP Arab States, Nudge Lebanon and B4Development – 2021

UNDP Arab States, Nudge Lebanon and B4Development developed a guidance note on the application of behavioural science to support the prevention of violent extremism.

“Is a nudge effective if it isn’t delivered on your mother tongue?”

Harvard Business Review Arabia – March 30, 2021

Dr. Fadi Makki, Helena Vlahinja Klauznicer and Deena Moussa release findings on the effect of language fluency on nudges in Harvard Business Review Arabia.

“Being on our “best behaviour” – how to use behavioural insights to design more effective responses to Covid-19”

UNDP in the Arab States – May 6,2020

The Innovation and Youth Teams at the UNDP Regional Hub for the Arab States, Nudge Lebanon, and B4Development explore how behavioural insights can design more effective responses to Covid-19.

Nudge Lebanon collaborates with B4Development and a professor from LSE on a study which finds that blanket approach to increasing compliance with social distancing unhelpful

LSE News – June 9, 2020

Nudge Lebanon collaborates with B4Development and a professor from LSE on a study which finds that blanket approach to increasing compliance with social distancing unhelpful

Press Release – Launching Nudge Lebanon’s Behavioral Science and Experimental Economics Lab in Lebanon: the Consumer Citizen Lab
November 13, 2019

Consumer Citizen Lab

Nudge Lebanon is proud to announce the launch of its Consumer Citizen Lab (CCL)

“A behavioral perspective on nutrition during the COVID-19 pandemic”

Harvard Business Review Arabia – April 2020

Dr. Fadi Makki presents a behavioral perspective on nutrition during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Interview with Dr. Fadi Makki on FutureTV

Bala Toul Sire – February 15, 2019

Dr. Fadi Makki explains the different concepts of Behavioral Economics and presents the work of Nudge Lebanon.

“Lessons and Guidance for Behavioral Insights Units in the Middle East:

Harvard Business Review Arabia – July 3, 2018

Dr. Fadi Makki explains how behavioral interventions and nudges help address public policy issues.

“Middle East Looks to Nudge Theory Amid Economic Strain”

The New Arab – June 26, 2017

Article on the establishment of the Qatar Behavioral Insights Unit (QBIU).

“Lebanon Needs a Nudge Unit”

Harvard Business Review Arabia – June 5, 2017

Dr. Fadi Makki discusses the mission of Nudge Lebanon and the applications of behavioral economics in addressing Lebanon’s policy challenges.

“Nudge Wants to Apply Behavioral Economics in Lebanon”

Commerce du Levant – June 29, 2017

Interview with Dr. Fadi Makki about the mission of Nudge Lebanon.

“Behavioral Insights Applications for Banks and Central Banks”

Harvard Business Review Arabia – November 27, 2017

Dr. Fadi Makki and Dr. Ali Osseiran discuss the potential applications of behavioral science by central banks and banks to increase financial inclusion.

“A Nudge in the Right Direction”

Article in Executive Magazine – March 14, 2018

Dr. Fadi Makki talks about behavioral science applications and nudges in public policy.

Interview with Dr. Fadi Makki on FutureTV

Alam Alsabah – March 11, 2018

Dr. Faddi Makki explains behavioral economics and the methodology behind Nudge Lebanon’s behavioral research and interventions.

“Can ‘Nudge Theory’ Change Citizens’ Behavior, Government Policy in Lebanon?”

Al-Monitor – April 27, 2018

Article on Nudge Lebanon’s first Middle East conference on Behavioral Economics in the region.

“How Behavioral Science Can Encourage More People to Pay Their Electricity Bills on Time”

Harvard Business Review Arabia – April 17, 2018

Dr. Fadi Makki, Fatima Keaik, and Nabil Saleh present the details of a “nudge” to encourage the timely payment of electricity bills.

“Eight Grants for Social Science Innovation in the Arab Region”

Carnegie Corporation Press Release – March 10, 2017

Nudge Lebanon was awarded a $500,000 grant by the Carnegie Corporation of New York to set up the Consumer Citizen Lab.

“Nudges and Behavioral Science Insights in Decision-Making”

Harvard Business Review Arabia – March 6, 2017

Dr. Fadi Makki breaks down behaviorally-informed decision-making and nudges.

Nudge