Behavioural Insights for Public Integrity

OECD

• Publisher: OECD
• Year: 2018
• eBook ISBN: 9789264297296
• Topic: Sozialwissenschaften
• Subtopic: Soziologie

Chapter 1. Introduction

Public integrity systems aim to generate decisions by public officials that align with the public interest. As a consequence, many integrity policies seek to directly or indirectly guide and govern human choices or behaviour. In spite of this, the behavioural perspective is still neglected in integrity policy making. Researcher in various scientific fields (including psychology, neuroscience, sociology and economics) on human cognition and behaviour has produced findings that offer valuable lessons and new perspectives. As a result, policy makers worldwide are increasingly applying behavioural insights to other areas of public policy (Economist, 2017[1]); (European Commission, 2016[2]); (OECD, 2017[3]); (World Bank, 2015[4]).

This report presents relevant behavioural insights for integrity policies. A broad variety of behavioural science literature was reviewed to identify the research most relevant to integrity policy making. Indeed, rethinking integrity policies from the perspective of human behaviour can make integrity policies both more effective and efficient. Behavioural policy design provides decision makers with a different perspective that takes into account two often overlooked aspects. The first relates to the ways in which individuals make moral choices: psychological shortcuts, misperceptions and temptations can often divert the best intentions. Understanding the dynamics and pitfalls of moral choice helps policy makers provide more effective guidance to promote integrity in the public sector and the whole of society. The second aspect relates to the ways in which social dynamics impact individual behaviour. Integrity is not just a question of individual moral choice; it is influenced by society, peers, neighbours and colleagues. Integrity policies function better in congruence with – and not against – the logic of social interactions.

Integrating these two core aspects can help policy makers address some of the key challenges of modern integrity policies: guiding moral choice making, overcoming the difficulties of collective action and reducing integrity risks. ‎Chapter 2. and ‎Chapter 3. present core findings from behavioural ethics and social interaction research, and examine the internal process of moral decision making and the relevance of external social dynamics. Based on these insights, they identify core precepts to guide policy makers. Figure ‎1.1 provides a schematic overview of how behavioural insights can improve understanding of ethical decision making in a given context and thereby inform integrity policies.

Figure ‎1.1. Understanding behaviour for better integrity policies

To help make the practical implications of these behavioural insights more tangible and concrete, ‎Chapter 4. applies core precepts of behavioural science to the framework provided by the OECD Recommendation of the Council on Public Integrity (OECD, 2017[5]). Finally, this chapter examines the potential application of behavioural insights to public policy within an integrity system through changes in the choice architecture – an approach otherwise known as “nudging”.

Chapter 2. The dynamics of moral decision making

Integrity policies are often based on the understanding that people will exploit an opportunity for misconduct whenever its profits are worth risking potential negative consequence. In other words, individuals are assumed to weigh the probability of getting caught (i.e. the strictness of internal and external control and detection mechanisms) and the ensuing sanctions against the undue gain they could obtain through action or inaction. The policy implications of such a view involve a high level of monitoring and enforcement. However, in everyday life, morality is often perceived in terms of character traits. When confronted with an integrity-related choice, it is assumed that a person will consult his or her own personal values and act in accordance with them. Indeed, corrupt behaviour is often interpreted as an extension of the “bad character” of those involved.

Behavioural research challenges this strictly rational cost-benefit analysis as well as the limited understanding of morality as a character trait. Instead, it paints a more nuanced picture of the dynamics behind moral choices. In a well-functioning integrity system, individuals use discretionary power wisely, judge fairly, lead by example and speak up against misconduct. Reality, of course, is more challenging. How can integrity policies encourage and support such moral choices? The following sections explore the dynamics of moral decision making and examine how policies can support individuals to act with integrity.

2.1. Moral choices

Who do policy makers have in mind when designing integrity policies? Put another way, who acts unethically? The answer to this question is central to the targeting of integrity policies. A key behavioural insight is that unethical choices are often made by people who in general want to behave ethically. However, many integrity policies do not take into account the possibility that the moral compass of these individuals may fail. Some target criminal-minded actors with a view to deterring unethical choices through strict sanctions. Others rely fully on the judgement and actions of trustworthy individuals. Behavioural insights make the case for integrity policies to be based on an understanding that even well-meaning decision makers sometimes fail to make the best ethical choices, and could work to prevent these ethical shortcomings.

Understanding who commits misconduct in which kind of situation often determines the type of preven...

Table of contents

• Title page
• Legal and rights
• Foreword
• Acknowledgements
• Executive summary
• Chapter 1. Introduction
• Chapter 2. The dynamics of moral decision making
• Chapter 3. Integrity in the context of social interactions
• Chapter 4. Applying behavioural insights to integrity policies
• References
• About the OECD