Analysis - Promises, Promises

We drink too much, pollute too much and exercise too little. Smoking, drug-taking and anti social behaviour remain stubbornly high. No wonder policy makers are very keen to find new and cost- effective ways of getting us to change our behaviour. Governments are increasingly drawing on new academic thinking in psychology and economics- work closely associated with American behaviour-change gurus like Richard Thaler and Robert Cialdini. And public pledges are seen as one of the most promising tools in the behaviour-change tool box. But are they the panacea to tackle our social problems or are promises just made to be broken? Presented by Ben Rogers. Contributors: Tracy Gilbert, Acceptable Behaviour Agreement Coordinator, London Borough of Croydon Liz Richardson, Research Fellow in Social Engagement, Manchester University Robin Dunbar, Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Oxford John Spurr, Professor of History, Swansea University Simon Burrall, Director of the think tank " Involve" Toby Ord, British Academy Post- Doctoral Research Fellow in Philosophy, University of Oxford David Halpern, Director of Research, The Institute for Government, London.