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What We Learned: Applying Behavioral Science to Improve Foundational Literacy and Numeracy

by Kate Rinehart-Smit, Sharon Schroen, Stefaan Vande Walle, Dr. Sneha Shashidhara, Akashi Kaul, Morgan Kabeer, Varsha Ashok, Mamadou Amadou Ly, Sihle Bikitsha

From 2022–2025, the Gates Foundation funded a cohort of five behavioral science projects focused on improving foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN) outcomes. Each project took a unique approach, but all shared a common goal: to understand how behavioral science could help teachers adopt or more consistently implement effective teaching practices, ensuring these practices were embedded […]

When Fear Delays the Future: Helping College Grads Land Jobs Sooner

by Maddie Kau

Graduating from college isn’t the reliable ticket to a good job that it once was. Landing a job often takes months (12% of 2023 grads were still looking for a job 6 months after graduation) and many grads end up settling (1 year out, over half are in a role that doesn’t require a college […]

How ‘Positive Friction’ Creates Better Financial Outcomes

by Vivien Caetano

Frictionless design has long been on the rise. Automatic enrollment continues to boost 401(k) adoption. Automated payments are increasingly industry norms. Online application and approval – on your computer or your phone – and other conveniences have become increasingly common in financial products, making the user experience as satisfying and frictionless as possible to drive […]

The Hidden Cost of Friction

by Scott Lensing and Bridgette Gray, CEO

Friction in our systems—such as lengthy forms, complex websites, excessive documentation, and unclear communication—wastes time, deters access, and exacerbates inequality. We all want our government and workplaces to actually work, and our lives to be easier. A behavioral approach to reducing friction can help us get there.

Seeing the Forest for the Trees: Personal Reflection Prompts More Intentional Giving

by Michael Herman

As we inch closer to Giving Season, we’re likely to ponder our philanthropy for the year thus far. Our team knows from prior designs that reflecting on one’s values, preferences, and experiences can help donors close the gap between generous intentions and satisfying donations. Moreover, tools that produce personalized recommendations can capture attention and mitigate […]

Building Trust in Research and Design

by Bridgette Gray, CEO

This post originally appeared as a LinkedIn Article For many Black Americans, the mention of vaccines or medical research conjures the Tuskegee Syphilis Study—a decades-long betrayal where researchers deliberately withheld treatment and honesty for 40 years from Black men in Alabama, watching them suffer and die for the sake of observation. This wasn’t just a […]

Barriers between Job Training and Triumph? Behavioral Insights to Support Women and Refugees in Jordan’s Job Market

by Kate MacLeod, Zainab Amjad, Ashley Barry, and Janan Al Ababneh

Imagine being a young person full of potential, yet two in every five of your peers cannot find a job. In Jordan, this is the reality for youth aged 15-24. Behind these numbers are even greater disparities: Jordan’s women labor force participation rate is among the lowest in the world, and unemployment among Syrian refugee […]

5 Ways Embedded Behavioral Design Teams Drive Success

by Bridgette Gray, CEO

This post originally appeared as a LinkedIn Article In 2016, New York City wanted to help keep its employees healthier by encouraging them to visit a work-site flu vaccine clinic. These vaccinations had been widely available before, but many employees had not gotten the flu. ideas42 was brought in to determine how more employees could […]

How to Rebuild the American Promise of Economic Opportunity

by Bridgette Gray, CEO

This post originally appeared as a LinkedIn Article Economic mobility and opportunity are foundational American promises: If you’re willing to work hard, you will have a fair chance to thrive. When clear paths are open for anyone to achieve economic security, our workforce becomes more vigorous, our communities more resilient, and our nation more prosperous. […]

More Than Numbers: Strengthening RCT and Cost Reporting for Policy and Practice

by Suvarna Pande (3ie) and Catherine MacLeod (ideas42)

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are a powerful tool for understanding what works in development and anti-poverty programs. They provide insights to guide practitioners and policymakers in improving and scaling interventions. But for RCT findings to inform these decisions, they must be communicated clearly and systematically—something that’s easier said than done. Good reporting isn’t just about […]

What We Learned: Applying Behavioral Science to Improve Foundational Literacy and Numeracy

When Fear Delays the Future: Helping College Grads Land Jobs Sooner

How ‘Positive Friction’ Creates Better Financial Outcomes

The Hidden Cost of Friction

Seeing the Forest for the Trees: Personal Reflection Prompts More Intentional Giving

Building Trust in Research and Design

Barriers between Job Training and Triumph? Behavioral Insights to Support Women and Refugees in Jordan’s Job Market

5 Ways Embedded Behavioral Design Teams Drive Success

How to Rebuild the American Promise of Economic Opportunity

More Than Numbers: Strengthening RCT and Cost Reporting for Policy and Practice

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