2026 International Behavioural Public Policy Workshop (NUS)
13 and 14 April 2026
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore
Call for Abstracts - Deadline: 15 January 2026
The third edition of the International Behavioural Public Policy Workshop (IBPPW) will be held at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore between April 13 and 14, 2026 (Monday and Tuesday). We invite all scholars and policy practitioners to submit their paper abstracts for onsite or online presentations.
We welcome submissions with either theoretical or empirical contributions, including work-in-progress papers intended for future publication. As the first BPP workshop in Asia, we especially welcome papers with an emphasis on the region. Authors of selected presentations may be invited to have their work published in a report demonstrating the policy impact of BPP interventions.
The selection of papers and presentations will be based on the academic quality of the submitted abstracts. Each submission will be evaluated for its theoretical and empirical contribution(s) towards advancing behavioural public policy research and practice as well as its relevance to the workshop theme, Getting Governing Right: Lessons from Behavioural Public Policy.
When submitting an abstract for consideration, please ensure that the following details are included:
- Paper title
- Paper abstract (150 words or less)
- A brief biography of the authors
- Indicate whether the presentation will be onsite or online
Kindly use the following file naming convention when submitting your abstract:
2026IBPPW_Presenter Last Name_Paper Title.
“Submission of 2026 IBPPW Paper Abstract: [Shortened Paper Title]” by January 15, 2026.
You will be notified of the outcome of your submission by early-February 2026.
Registration
Early bird registration will commence on February 1, 2026. Authors of accepted submissions will be notified and invited to proceed with registration.
Registration fees are inclusive of meals and refreshments provided during the workshop. If you require financial assistance or a fee waiver, please contact us at decb64_YnBwd29ya3Nob3BAbnVzLmVkdS5zZw==_decb64. Students are eligible for a fee waiver. To express your interest in attending, kindly email us at decb64_YnBwd29ya3Nob3BAbnVzLmVkdS5zZw==_decb64.
Workshop Programme
To be updated
About the Workshop
Welcome to the third edition of IBPPW, NUS. Set
in the bucolic Bukit Timah campus of NUS, this workshop provides a platform for scholars and
practitioners to come together, exchange ideas and present their research at the intersection of the
behavioural sciences and public policy.
The workshop aims to chart the latest developments within the field and encourage the adoption of
behavioural approaches in policy-making across Asia and beyond.
Participants of this workshop are encouraged to share their theoretical, methodological, and applied ideas
across various domains, including climate change, environmental sustainability, health, consumer
behaviour, and technology.
The two-day workshop will feature presentations across 4 to 5 sessions. These sessions are designed to
foster in-depth discussions on specific research questions aligned with the theme. The final number of
sessions will be determined based on the abstracts submitted. Submissions may also be invited for a
poster session and presentation that will take place during lunch break of Day 2 of the workshop.
Theme - Getting Governing Right: Lessons from Behavioural Public Policy
Rapid political shifts and a shifting world order are redefining power dynamics, supply chains and
geopolitical norms. Within countries, governments are facing more domestic pressure in delivering public
social goods – affordable homes and healthcare, as well as basic infrastructure. Effective public policy
design is more crucial than ever. Yet, policy design continues to be undermined by domain-specific
challenges, including the rise of malign tendencies among both policy makers and policy takers,
alongside inherent vices such as unpreparedness, maliciousness, non-compliance, and non-learning.
In this context, behavioural public policy holds transformative potential for strengthening governance
systems, though questions remain about how best to harness these insights to improve institutional
effectiveness, legitimacy, and public trust.
We invite theoretical, methodological, and empirical contributions that explore how BPP can enhance
governance across multiple dimensions, including but not limited to:
- improving policy design and implementation by helping government officials recognise and counter
their own cognitive biases, organisational blind spots, and flawed decision-making processes;
- strengthening transparency and accountability by using behavioural insights to design systems that
make ethical governance easier, automate information disclosure, and make public service more
rewarding than self-interest; and
- enhancing regulatory effectiveness and compliance through interventions that account for the
psychological and social factors shaping how citizens and organisations respond to rules and
standards.
We welcome quantitative evaluations, qualitative case studies, comparative analyses, and mixed- methods research that illuminate both the successes and limitations of BPP in practice. As we continue to
build the BPP community in Asia, we particularly welcome papers with a focus on the region.
Procedural Goals
- Foster partnerships and collaborations between behavioural public policy scholars and practitioners across academia, industry and government
- Promote knowledge sharing by inviting esteemed behavioural public policy scholars and practitioners to share their latest research in Asia and beyond
- Help researchers and practitioners polish their work-in-progress studies into manuscripts ready for publication
Informational Goals
- Chart the development of the field and showcase the latest theoretical and empirical advancements in Asia and beyond
- Explore the applications of behavioural interventions across different contexts, populations and cultures
- Discuss the challenges and effectiveness of behavioural intervention tools across different contexts
- Brainstorm for ways to enhance collaboration across different policy stakeholders to address emerging global issues
Important Dates
- Abstract submission deadline: 15 January 2026
- Notification of abstract acceptance: Early-February 2026
- Early bird registration: 1 - 28 February 2026
- Regular registration: 1 - 31 March 2026
- Submission of paper and presentation slides: 31 March 2026
- BPP workshop in Singapore: 13 - 14 April 2026
Workshop Conveners
Adam OLIVER
Professor of Behavioural Public Policy
Department of Social Policy
The London School of Economics and Political Science
LEONG Ching
Vice Provost (Student Life) and Associate Professor
Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy
National University of Singapore