David Halpern

David Halpern is a Visiting Professor at the Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy, Department of The Policy Institute. He has served as the Chief Executive of the UK Government’s Behavioural Insights Team (Nudge Unit) since 2010. Previously, he held roles including founding Director of the Institute for Government and Chief Analyst at the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit. His academic career includes tenured positions at Cambridge University and visiting posts at Oxford and Harvard.

Education:

• Tenured position at Cambridge University
• Visiting posts at Oxford University and Harvard University

Research Interests: Behavioral insights, public policy design, government strategy, wellbeing measurement, and social capital. His work emphasizes applying behavioral science to improve policy outcomes, as seen in his books Inside the Nudge Unit and MINDSPACE report.

Key Contributions: Pioneered the use of “nudge” theory in public policy, shaping global approaches to behavioral economics in governance. His research bridges academic theory and practical government implementation, focusing on societal wellbeing and institutional effectiveness.

Awards:

• Elected Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (2016)

Advising & Grants: No specific student advisees or grant details listed. However, his leadership roles imply significant contributions to policy-oriented research funding and strategic guidance.

Labs/Teams: Core member of the Behavioural Insights Team (Nudge Unit), a global leader in applying behavioral science to public policy.