Transcript The BIAS Project: Using Behavioral Economics to Improve

Behavioral Economics in
Child Support
Kim Newsom Bridges, Executive Director
Ohio CSEA Directors’ Association
Susan Brown, Director
Franklin County CSEA
Deb Ortiz-Flores, Director
Lucas County Ohio JFS
ERICSA 50th Annual Training Conference & Exposition ▪ May 19 – 23 ▪ Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, Florida
WHO ARE OUR CLIENTS?
WHY DO THEY BELIEVE AS THEY DO?
WHY DO THEY ACT AS THEY DO?
WHAT IS IT ABOUT THEIR POSITION THAT
I DON’T UNDERSTAND?
BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS
The Cutting Edge in Human Service Delivery
What is Behavioral Economics?
Emerging evidence from the behavioral sciences and behavioral
economics offers us an understanding of human behavior and
decision-making.
Traditional economics unrealistically assumes people make choices
in a rational manner based on self-interest. In actuality, an
intricate web of social, psychological and economic factors affects
individuals decisions.
Behavioral Economics is like the flashlight
in
the dark for understanding
human behavior.
BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS –
The Power to Influence Positive Human Behavior
Behavioral Economics takes customer input, such as
attitudes, perceived values, beliefs and norms and
uses that information to increase the likelihood of
successful outcomes.
Behavioral Economics can be applied to many areas, in
many ways. For example, messages can be framed
differently to focus on certain populations, social
norms can be applied to influence a customer’s
decision to engage in programming that will help their
family.
BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS
Strategies:
By understanding the prospective (or belief system) of each client
or target population an organization can nudge their clients
towards decisions that make their lives better.
A nudge is any aspect of the choice architecture that alters
people’s behavior in a predictable way without forbidding any
options.
- Putting the preferred option at eye level – the considered
display of fruit in a school cafeteria, but not banning junk food.
- Putting the preferable choice first on a list of options
(political ballots)
Psychologies of Decision
Do they see what you see?
Do they value what you value?
Are they choosing what or how you
think they are?
Psychology of Scarcity
See the Handouts
• Examples of Psychology of Action and Decision
and possible interventions
Other Examples:
• Use of Defaults: If you fail to choose, your
default is the most beneficial choice (for the
busy, absent-minded or overwhelmed).
• Marketing to the Target Group – understand
the culture
(ie: sense of community
vs. sense of self)
Lucas County Young Fathers
Program
•
•
•
•
Why was the program developed?
What are the key elements of the program?
What have been the results?
How Behavioral Economics has come into play
in the success of this program.
Franklin County BIAS Project
• The process
• Current Status
• What are we looking for in the results?
Use of the concepts in general
• How do we infiltrate the normal thinking of
child support staff?
• How do we infiltrate the process improvement
of child support management?
• Will it make a difference?
Contact Information
• Susan Brown, Director CSEA, Franklin County
– E-mail [email protected]
– Phone 614-525-6030
• Deb Ortiz-Flores, Director JFS, Lucas County
– Email [email protected]
– Phone 419-297-9115
• Kim Newsom Bridges, Director OCDA
– E-mail [email protected]
– Phone 614-846-6652