Behavioral Insights Group

Launched in 2013 and led by faculty director Todd Rogers, the Behavioral Insights Group (BIG) brings together Harvard’s outstanding group of decision research scholars, behavioral economists, and other behavioral scientists to focus their energies on improving how decisions are made, both by leaders, and by individuals. BIG is driven by the belief that improving the quality of our leaders’ decisions is a core lever we possess to improve the world. When leaders and individuals make better decisions, an amazing array of changes can happen, including:

• Improving educational systems,
• Improving health,
• Reducing discrimination,
• Protecting the environment,
• Managing finances better (both personal and organizational)

Seminal books such as Nudge, by Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein, and Thinking, Fast and Slow, by Daniel Kahneman, have revealed how behavioral economics and other behavioral sciences shed light on decision making processes. These insights can do much more than improve how individuals make important personal decisions. They can also help leaders make better decisions about major policies—and ensure those policies effectively improve society.

BIG is fortunate that many of the world’s best decision research scholars, behavioral economists, and other behavioral scientists are at Harvard, and are eager to apply their expertise to our most challenging problems. In addition to acting as a network and convener for behavioral science faculty across the university, the Behavioral Insights Student Group is an active network of students interested in the theory and practice of behavioral science in a wide range of disciplines. BISG hosts events, including book talks, and career fairs, as well as networking events for behavioral science students to connect with each other, alumni, researchers, and practitioners.