Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Many governments in the developed world can now best be described as 'neuroliberal' a combination of neoliberal principles with policy initiatives derived from insights in the behavioural sciences. The convening of the "Nudge Squad" in the US and Behavioural Change Inquiry in the UK demonstrate the unprecedented impact which behavioural economics, behavioural psychology and neuroeconomics are having on the design and implementation of public policy.
Neuroliberalism presents the results of the first critical global study of the impacts of the behavioural sciences on public policy and government. The authors explore the social, political and philosophical questions which arise from a neuroliberal government, including interpretations of freedom, the changing form and function of the state, the changing role of the corporation in society, the design of everyday environments and technologies, and educational practices. The book also considers the potential impacts of more radical, and potentially empowering, deployments of the behavioural sciences emerging from positive psychology, behavioural deliberation and Mindfulness training.
Drawing on interviews with leading behaviour change experts, organizations, and policy-makers, and a range of international case studies (including tax return policies, healthy eating initiatives, pensions saving schemes, organ donation campaigns, HIV/AIDS programmes, Malaria prevention initiatives, charitable giving, sanitation improvement programmes, and carbon reduction schemes), Neuroliberalism provides the first critical analysis of the ethical, economic, political and constitutional implications of behaviourally-oriented government.
Synopsis
Many governments in the developed world can now best be described as 'neuroliberal' having a combination of neoliberal principles with policy initiatives derived from insights in the behavioural sciences.
Neuroliberalism presents the results on the first critical global study of the impacts of the behavioural sciences on public policy and government actions, including behavioural economics, behavioural psychology and neuroeconomics. Drawing on interviews with leading behaviour change experts, organizations, and policy-makers, and discussed in alignment with a series of international case studies, this volume provides a critical analysis of the ethical, economic, political and constitutional implications of behaviourally oriented government. It explores the impacts of the behavioural sciences on everyday life through a series of themes, including: understandings of the human subject; interpretations of freedom; the changing form and function of the state; the changing role of the corporation in society; and the design of everyday environments and technologies.
The research presented in this volume reveals a diverse set of neuroliberal approaches to government that offer policy-makers and behaviour change professionals a real choice in relation to the systems of behavioural government they can implement. This book also argues that the behavioural sciences have the potential to support much more effective systems of government, but also generate new ethical concerns that policy makers should be aware of.