Publications in: Behavioural Economics
Comfort Taking Evidence Review
| Published: | 11 March, 2026 |
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In February 2024 London Economics was commissioned by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero to undertake a Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) of existing published literature on ‘comfort taking’. Comfort taking is a phenomenon that occurs following improvements to the energy efficiency of a property and corresponding energy bill savings. The resident takes advantage […]
Design and Behavioural Research Study to Create an EU Harmonised Label for the Commercial Guarantee of Durability and an EU Harmonised Notice on the Legal Guarantee of Conformity
| Published: | 18 December, 2025 |
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The European Commission has published the final report on the development of an EU harmonised label for the commercial guarantee of durability and an EU harmonised notice on the legal guarantee of conformity, mandated by Directive (EU) 2024/825 on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition. London Economics’ behavioural experts designed and implemented a behavioural experiment […]
Le Patourel V BT Group Plc: What Does the CAT’s Judgement Mean for the Use of Behavioural Economics in Class Actions in the UK?
| Published: | 30 January, 2025 |
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In December 2024 the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal dismissed Justin Le Patourel’s claim which centred on allegations that BT abused its dominant market position by imposing excessive and unfair pricing for Standalone Fixed Voice Services (full judgement). For the first time in the UK, behavioural economists were engaged to provide evidence related to one of […]
The Value of the Met Office Public Weather Service to the General Public
| Published: | 05 September, 2024 |
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London Economics were commissioned by the Met Office to estimate the value that the UK public places on the Met Office’s Public Weather Service. The value was estimated through conducting a survey of the UK general population. The overall value is explored, as well as the value of different aspects of weather forecasts. The study […]
Behavioural Insights and the CMA Google Play Case – Applying Behavioural Economics to Competition Cases
| Published: | 30 September, 2024 |
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In August 2024, the UK Competition and Markets Authority rejected commitments proposed by Google to resolve concerns around the Google Play billing system for in-app purchases. The CMA’s decision is one of a growing series of rulings in high-profile competition investigations and cases that have explicitly or implicitly drawn upon behavioural economics, including a number […]
Behavioural Study on Disclosure of ADR Information to Consumers by Traders and ADR Entities – May 2024
| Published: | 3 May, 2024 |
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This study for the European Commission used behavioural experiments with consumers across multiple countries to assess ways to increase awareness and uptake of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) through information provision. ADR is intended to offer consumers and traders a quick and inexpensive route to resolve disagreements, and so is important for providing access to redress […]
Deposit Return Schemes for Homo-economicus | Behavioural Economics in Focus Issue 5
| Published: | 23 May, 2024 |
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Deposit Return Schemes for homo-economicus The European Parliament in April this year adopted new measures to make packaging more sustainable and reduce packaging waste in the EU.[i] As part of these new rules, by 2029 Member States are required to introduce deposit return systems for plastic and metal beverage containers. The UK Government, Welsh Government, […]
Green Home Finance: Expert Analysis from a Behavioural Perspective
| Published: | 1 March, 2024 |
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Green home finance presents an opportunity to support the UK Government in achieving its Net Zero Ambitions. This study by London Economics and partners Basis Social, Cambridge University and University College London explores the appetite for GHF products amongst consumers, the barriers and enablers to GHF delivery, and how behavioural science can be used to […]
Access to Cash: Costs to Consumers and SMEs of a Loss of Access to In-person Cash and Banking Services
| Published: | 6 February, 2024 |
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London Economics led this study for the FCA to estimate the costs to consumers and SMEs from loss of access to cash and in-person banking services. The research explored how consumers and SMEs currently use these services and how they would behave if they lost access to these services. It identified that access to these […]
Impact of International Investment Agreements on UK Outwards Direct Investment
| Published: | 12 January, 2024 |
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London Economics and Ipsos were commissioned by the Department for Business and Trade to investigate the impact of international investment agreements (IIAs) on UK outward direct investment (ODI). ODI is cross-border investment from one country into another, with the aim of establishing a lasting interest in an enterprise where the investor’s purpose is to play […]