Insight into Economics
Introduction
Behavioural economics investigates the various factors behind the making of an individual’s economic decisions, and the outcomes of the economic decision on resource allocation, and market prices. In other words, behavioural economics plays a significant role in determining the type of decision people make; bad or good decisions towards the, and also aids in correcting the choice based mistakes as the concept can be employed both before or after a decision has been made. Assumptions made by the traditional economic research state that an individual’s economic decisions are based on the maximisation of utility. However, in contrast, assumptions made by behavioural economics state that an individual’s economic decisions are less based on the maximisation of utility as people have inadequate resources, and different psychiatric biases. Unhealthy eating habits in school have been recognised to be among the leading contributors to poor health records among students across the UK. Eating habits are behavioural, warranting the application behavioural economics principles by the UK government towards controlling and curbing poor healthy eating habits in the UK. This scope of the essay includes analysing three principles of behavioural economics in relation to healthy food in school, and also explain how the behavioural economic principles can be employed by the UK government to advocate for a healthy lifestyle across the country.
The Issue
Despite what is considered of healthy food in school to be a balanced diet, some individuals still term it as “unhealthy” as it does not incorporate what they want. Thus, it lays a great challenge towards the promotion of a healthy lifestyle at school and relatively in the country. What children consume in school is vital at any cost. A major concern for the UK government thus, heavily advocates for healthy eating habits across all schools in the country by policing that all academic institutions must meet the recommended standards pertaining to healthy food in schools, which include incorporating more fruits and vegetables into their diet, wheat, and cereals; to ensure students eat healthily, and balanced diets. Thus the need to apply the principles of behavioural economics towards making sound decisions concerning healthy food in schools and across the country. Government influenced policies concerning healthy food in school play a significant role in ensuring that student’s nutrition is met; thus, contributing to both great health and education outcomes. Apart from assessing the multiple ways of processing information within a human mind, behavioural economics explains and illustrates how individual decisions and behaviour can be influenced by the actions or decisions of other individuals in the community. Thus, understanding the principles of behavioural economics can greatly aid the UK government in the effective application of the principles towards promoting a healthy lifestyle throughout the UK.
Despite the efforts from both the UK government and the academic institutions to promote healthy food in schools and across the country, individual decisions and desires have remained to be greatest influencers of promoting healthy food in schools and across the UK. Not all students are willing to take the type of healthy diet that is presented to them at school; thus, it remains to lay a great impact on maintaining a healthy lifestyle across the UK. Unhealthy food in schools has contributed to creating both an inside and outside environment that is highly characterised by mild to severe health complications. Unhealthy living lifestyle across the UK is associated with increased rates of related medical morbidities and increased medical costs. Lack of a properly balanced diet may deprive the body of essential nutrients recommended for growth and maintenance of the normal functioning of the body; thus, low academic performance among students subjected to unhealthy food in schools. The UK government must, therefore, lay out more policies and guidelines concerning the consumption of healthy and balanced food in schools. To achieve this, the UK government will be highly dependent on a range of behavioural economics principles to advocate a healthy lifestyle across the country.
Behavioural Economic Solutions
Cases of junk food in schools is just among the leading forms of unhealthy food promotion habits in academic institutions. Coming up with possible solutions to limit these habits of unhealthy food in schools is not just the role of the academic institution but also, the role of the students. Students are the subject involved, thus are the great influencers of healthy food in schools. The government above all must cover a larger portion of the campaign, as healthy food in schools influences the healthy lifestyle of individuals across the country. Thus, to encourage a healthy lifestyle across the country, the UK government would find it beneficial to incorporate the following discussed three principles of behavioural economics in the provision of policies and guidelines concerning healthy food in schools. However, it is vital to be aware that the effects of behavioural interventions between different cultures in society do vary. The behavioural interventions may favour the certain culture group of individuals in society while neglecting the culture of other individuals in the society.
Other Individuals Behaviour Matters
In the community, much of the way in which individuals conduct themselves is greatly influenced by the actions or decisions of other individuals in the society. In school, students will tend to follow what other students might be doing or are influenced to do as a result leading to the adoption of certain behaviours, including unhealthy eating habits. The level of mutual trust between students is estimated to be relatively high; thus, influences student behaviour towards healthy food, balanced diet consumption habits. To promote a healthy lifestyle across the country, the UK government should therefore provide opportunities to alter the school food environment to positively impact individual student food choices, by advocating ‘‘the healthy choice the easy choice.’’ Allowing the student to exercise healthy eating habits would create a positive image to the surrounding society of the importance of incorporating healthy, balanced diets.
Habits are Important
Habits play an essential role in saving people’s times as they are daily life activities, and much time is spent on them. Habits may include incorporating fruits and vegetables in every meal. Healthy food in school m