Public Health: how to influence behaviour – nudge or nanny?

Rt Hon Alan Johnson MP, Britain`s Secretary of State for Health

(Mar 19, 2009 at the RSA)

The perils of infectious disease, which shaped the NHS in the 20th century, have largely receded. The majority of illness in this country is caused by poor diet, smoking and lack of exercise.

Poor health is disproportionately seen in disadvantaged communities, where poor local services and limited opportunities to exercise conspire with poor education and low aspiration.

The great challenge for policy makers is how to influence people’s behaviour – if health and wellbeing is to a large part decided by the day-to-day choices that people make, then when and how should the government intervene?

Respondent: Matthew Taylor, chief executive, RSA

Chair: Ben Lucas, director, the 2020 Public Services Trust

Duration : 0:30:12

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