Challenges for Modelling Individual Decision Making and the Implications for Public Policy
Challenges for Modelling Individual Decision Making and the Implications for Public Policy
23 - 24 April 2026
About
This two-day workshop is on the occasion of the semi-retirement of Professor Graham LoomesLink opens in a new window from his position as Professor of Behavioural Science at Warwick Business School. Graham is one of the most respected and highly cited researchers in behavioural science and a Fellow of the British AcademyLink opens in a new window. He has made many major contribution to the theoretical and empirical analysis of people’s values, judgements and decisions.
Graham is noted above all for being one of the great interdisciplinary figures in our field. He has consistently incorporated psychological insights into rigorous models of economic behaviour including the hugely influential development of regret theory which remains a key alternative approach to expected-utility for understanding choice under uncertainty, and subsequent work modelling preference reversals and violations of standard rationality assumptions. His work is also known for its many significant policy applications to health, safety, and environmental issues.
The event will bring together leading scholars from across psychology and economics who have been influenced by Graham’s work. The event is designed to generate forward-looking dialogue among researchers working at the intersection of psychology, behavioural science, experimental economics and public policy. Speakers will examine themes central to Graham's work - including choice under risk and over time, preference construction, measurement of noise and value, and behavioural insights for societal challenges - while exploring emerging directions for research and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Event Details
Date: 23 - 24 April 2026
Location: M2, WBS Teaching Centre, Warwick Business School
Please select "[Behaviour] 23 -24 APRIL 2026 - Challenges for Modelling Individual Decision Making and the Implications for Public Policy" on the registration form.
The deadline for booking your place is 15 April.
Programme
| 10:30–10:50 |
Arrival & Refreshments |
| 10:50–11:00 |
Welcome |
| Session 1 · Chair: Robin Cubitt (University of Nottingham) – Join online |
|
| 11:00–11:45 |
Bob Sugden (University of East Anglia) What's the use of stated preference data? |
| 11:45–12:30 |
Chris Starmer (University of Nottingham) Does visualising lottery attributes affect risk preferences? |
| 12:30–13:20 |
Lunch |
| Session 2 · Chair: Ash Luckman (University of Leicester) - Join onlineLink opens in a new window |
|
| 13:20–14:05 |
Ian Bateman (University of Exeter) Bringing biodiversity into economic and policy decision making: Contrasting stated preference methods with target and cost analysis (TCA) |
| 14:05–14:50 |
Nick Chater (University of Warwick) [remote] The plural of choice is agreement |
| 14:50–15:05 |
Break |
| Session 3 · Chair: Tim Mullett (University of Warwick) - Join onlineLink opens in a new window |
|
| 15:05–15:50 |
Sudeep Bhatia (University of Pennsylvania) Meta-meta-decision Theory |
| 15:50–16:35 |
Lukasz Walasek (University of Warwick) Incommensurability and the Structure of Everyday Choices |
| 16:35–17:00 |
Break |
| Session 4 · Chair: Robert Stueber (University of Warwick) - Join onlineLink opens in a new window |
|
| 17:00–17:45 |
Paul Slovic (University of Oregon) [remote] When Rationality Fails: Rethinking Nuclear Weapons Policy Through the Psychology of Risk and Decision Making |
| 17:45–18:30 |
George Loewenstein (Carnegie Mellon University) [remote] Emotions and Preferences |