Write a behavioural economic analysis of barriers to COVID-19 vaccination uptake in Queensland and propose a novel behaviourally informed policy intervention to promote vaccination, with reference to an identified specific population of interest. Your paper should include:
• A clear statement of your target population. It can be any well-defined group for whom simply making vaccines available in abundant supply may not suffice to ensure adequate uptake. You might define it with reference to characteristics such as age, socioeconomic status, gender, indigenous, remote, cultural background, health status, etc. Be clear and specific, as you will write the rest of the paper with reference to this population. Avoid defining it over broadly, unless you specifically intend to propose an intervention that will apply equally broadly.
• A discussion of key barriers to vaccine uptake in the target population. Ask why they haven’t seized the chance to be protected, what is stopping them? This should be informed by relevant behavioural economics concepts but may also involve standard economic factors as well as other relevant insights. While some barriers will be relevant universally (and it is appropriate to discuss them), where possible try to identify ones that are likely to be of specific importance in your chosen population.
• A proposal for a novel policy intervention to promote vaccine uptake in the target population, which must include a behavioural component (although it may be yoked with classical tools such as incentives or information). Draw on one of the behaviour change frameworks we saw in class, e.g., EAST, to assist you. Explain how your proposed intervention specifically addresses one or more of the barriers you identified above (or their underlying behavioural biases, psychological mechanisms, etc.) and is thus likely to be effective. You should also address any potential risk of “backfiring” or unintended consequences.
Write the paper for a senior bureaucrat or minister who is university-educated but not trained in behavioural economics. You can bring in complex technical arguments provided you explain them in a clear and accessible manner. But try to keep it engaging and to-the-point.
** Really need this to be above 70% and done on time ***