Yaniv Hanoch - Behavioral Economics and Healthy Behaviors: Key Concepts and Current Research

BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS AND HEALTHY BEHAVIORS

The field of behavioral economics can tell us a great deal about cognitive bias and unconscious decision-making, challenging the orthodox economic model whereby consumers make rational and informed choices. But it is in the arena of health that it perhaps offers individuals and governments the most value. In this important new book, the most pernicious health issues we face today are examined through a behavioral economics lens. It provides an essential and timely overview of how this growing field of study can reframe and offer solutions to some of the biggest health issues of our age.

The book opens with an overview of the core theoretical concepts, after which each chapter assesses how behavioral economics research and practice can inform public policy across a range of health issues. Including chapters on tobacco, alcohol and drug use, physical activity, dietary intake, cancer screening and sexual health, the book integrates the key insights from the field to both developed and developing nations.

Also asking important ethical questions around paternalism and informed choice, this book will be essential reading for students and researchers across psychology, economics, and business and management, as well as public health professionals wishing for a concise overview of the role that behavioral economics can potentially play in allowing people to live healthier lives.

Yaniv Hanoch is Professor of Decision Science in the School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, UK.

Andrew J. Barnes is Assistant Professor in the Department of Health Behavior and Policy at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Research Associate of Massey Cancer Center, and affiliate faculty in the Center for the Study of Tobacco Products.

Thomas Rice is Professor in the Department of Health Policy and Management, UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, with a joint appointment in Public Policy.

This book is a must-have for those who want to understand how the insights from behavioral economics can be applied to the most significant health issues we face, such as smoking, obesity and prevention of HIV. Each chapter will change the way you think about health behaviors and provide you with up-to-date research distilled to make it accessible. It will be the standard book in behavioral economics and health behaviors for years to come.

Professor Richard Scheffler, Distinguished Professor of Health Economics and Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley, USA

Key Concepts and Current Research

Edited by Yaniv Hanoch, Andrew J. Barnes, and Thomas Rice

First published 2017
by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN

and by Routledge
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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business

2017 Yaniv Hanoch, Andrew J. Barnes, and Thomas Rice

The right of Yaniv Hanoch, Andrew J. Barnes, and Thomas Rice to be identified as the authors of this work has been asserted by them in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers.

Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
A catalog record for this title has been requested

ISBN: 978-1-138-63820-4 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-63821-1 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-63793-8 (ebk)

Typeset in Bembo
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Part I
Background material

Yaniv Hanoch, Andrew J. Barnes, and Thomas Rice

Thomas Rice, Yaniv Hanoch, and Andrew J. Barnes

Part II
Shaping health behaviors

Warren K. Bickel, Lara N. Moody, Sarah E. Snider, Alexandra M. Mellis, Jeffrey S. Stein, and Amanda J. Quisenberry

Michael Amlung, Joshua Gray, and James MacKillop

Tammy Leonard and Kerem Shuval

Marie A. Bragg and Brian Elbel

Part III
Detecting and managing disease

Steven E. Meredith and Nancy M. Petry

Yan Li, Fernando A. Wilson, Roberto Villarreal, and Jos A. Pagn

Sebastian Linnemayr

Jill Luoto

Part IV
The role of providers, insurers, and government

Daniella Meeker and Jason N. Doctor

Andrew J. Barnes, Thomas Rice, and Yaniv Hanoch

Aditi P. Sen and Richard G. Frank

Editing a book requires the efforts of many authors. We would first like to thank the authors of this edited volume for their dedication, hard work, and timely submission of their respective chapters. Their efforts and willingness to read and comment on others chapters is also greatly appreciated. Their contribution to the completion of this project was extremely valuable. Several external reviewers were kind enough to read and provide excellent comments on various chapters. In particular we would like to thank Fred Zimmerman from UCLA, who was supportive of our project from its early stages. He provided detailed comments and suggestions about the book proposal as well as on various chapters. Jessica Greene, from George Washington University, and Chao Zhou, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, read our chapter on health insurance and gave us excellent suggestions. Yaniv Hanoch would like to thank Michaela Gummerum for her ongoing support and excellent ideas; Tom Rice expresses his great appreciation for the continued advice and support from Kate Desmond; and Andrew Barnes would like to thank Kate and Ambrose Barnes for letting him work on this project that brought him so much joy over weekends, holidays, and vacations.