Behavioural science activities

Behavioural science activities are based on a multidisciplinary approach to changing human behaviour and decision-making. Behavioural science expertise has been developed in central government by offering training to public officials, producing research reports and implementing projects in various policy areas.

Behavioural science is used to study how citizens think, experience things and act. Behavioural innovations have influenced the development of administration in many policy areas and brought new ways to support people’s wellbeing and improve daily lives.

Behavioural science can be used to solve challenging social problems through good administration. A deeper understanding of citizens’ behaviour and the consultation of citizens in processes such as law drafting can also help us create more inclusive and equitable social structures and institutions.

Sludge Auditing

The Prime Minister’s Office, the OECD and the European Commission launched a 2.5-year sludge auditing project in December 2024. The aim of the project is to identify, reduce and prevent unnecessary sludge related to the use of digital services and processes and to ensure that digital public services can be adopted and used effectively.

Sludge refers to excessive and unjustified frictions and obstacles that make it harder for people to achieve their goals when engaging with services and processes. Sludge also imposes psychological costs on users, making it more difficult for them to access services. Developed by the regional government of New South Wales in Australia, the sludge audit method helps to identify and measure sludge in the use of services and develop solutions to reduce it.

The Prime Minister’s Office and the OECD have carried out a sludge auditing pilot together with the Tax Administration, and nine cities and agencies began sludge audits in their organisations in autumn 2025. A new wave of audits is scheduled for spring 2026.

You can participate in the project by conducting a sludge audit in your organisation or by joining a sludge auditing and behavioural science network.