'Rationalized incrementalism'. How behavior experts in government negotiate institutional logics. Issue 2 (2nd April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Feitsma, Joram
• Is Part Of: Critical policy studies. Volume 14:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 156
• Page End: 173
• Publication Date: 2020-04-02
• Subjects: Behavioral Insights -- nudge -- evidence-based policy -- ethnographic fieldwork -- Dutch government; Policy sciences -- Periodicals; 320.6
• DOI: 10.1080/19460171.2018.1557067
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1946-0171

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Public policy design takes place in a complex 'policy swamp' that is not easily analyzed, let alone controlled. Nonetheless, recent scientific advances in understanding human behavior have led some to believe there is a way out of this swamp. A 'Behavioural Insights' movement has emerged, pushing a seemingly neo-rationalist strategy that clashes with the hitherto incrementalist strategy of policy-making. This article investigates how upcoming behavior experts in Dutch government grapple with this clash, based on long-term ethnographic fieldwork. The article points out that these behavior experts, despite their clear-cut rationalist impression, in the backstage take on the challenge of negotiating competing institutional logics.