ABSTRACT
This chapter explores behavioral economics constructs and their potential for unifying public health and economic approaches. Behavioral economics provides a framework for understanding the decision to engage in health-promoting physical activity by focusing on the process by which individuals make judgments given limited information, and how they utilize these judgments to make choices. Behavioral economics tools hold promise for improving physical activity. The chapter addresses measurement and data collection considerations that will improve the study of behavioral economics constructs. The chapter discusses several behavioral economics tools that may be incorporated into multi-level behavioral interventions aimed at modifying physical activity levels. It describes the important for future researchers to report carefully on the type of behavioral economics tool used and the context in which it is implemented so that study results can be compared to determine which tools are most effective, for which sub-populations, and in which contexts.
