WH Reports on Its Efforts to Use Psychology to Advance Its Programs, Policies

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CNS News:

(CNSNews.com) - The Obama administration on Thursday released its second annual report on efforts to apply "social and behavioral science research" to advance its policy goals, including employment and climate change.

 

A "Social and Behavioral Sciences Team" located in the White House says some of its projects show promise.

 

For example, the Labor Department, working with the State of Oregon, is developing a pilot project that aims to help unemployed people return to work more quickly, by changing the way unemployment insurance benefits are administered.

 

Jobless Americans would get a higher-than-standard benefit at the beginning of their "unemployment spell," and the amount would decrease over time. "Behavioral science research shows that this kind of payment structure may help people return to work more quickly," the report notes.