Behavioural Insights for Living within the Earth's Carrying Capacity: An Interdisciplinary Review of the Scholarly Literature

Applications of behavioural insights (BI) are increasingly being used in social and economic contexts by both public and private actors, and particularly in highly developed countries like Canada. These applications aim to use an understanding of human decision-making informed by key findings in behavioural science in recent decades, one that challenges conventional assumptions about rationality. BI applications are based on systematic and predictable errors in individual decision-making, the biases and shortcuts individuals use routinely. Proponents of BI foreground their low cost of implementation and their ability to produce benefits without regulation or incentives, preserving individual choice. In the last decade, numerous governments have established dedicated units to further pilot and implement BI in public policy, including the UK and Canada.

Our Synthesis Paper assesses the underlying scholarship of BI, by examining the research testing its significance for sustainability goals. We conducted a comprehensive literature review using an interdisciplinary approach and methods (from psychology, economics and public policy). Our findings indicate that this field is still cohering and contains considerable promise for reducing adverse environmental impacts. However, we conclude that the state of the research does not yet support many general policy applications.