Behavioral Economic Concepts and Methods for Studying Health Behavior Steven R. Hursh , Biomedical Modeling and Analysis, Science Applications International Corporation, and Behavioral Biology Center, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, USA The concepts of behavioral economics have proven useful for understanding the environmental control of overall levels of behavior for a variety of commodities, including, for example, reinforcement by food, water, drugs and cigarettes. These general concepts are summarized for application to the analysis of factors controlling overall consumption, overall response expenditure, and choice among different commodities. Behavioral economics provide a conceptual framework for understanding key factors that can contribute to reductions in consumption of illicit drugs and excessive consumption of other commodities and changes in choice behavior. They also provide a basis for generalization from laboratory and clinical studies to the development of novel behavioral therapies to reduce behaviors in excess and government policies to limit the illegal consumption of controlled substances. Key words: behavioral economics, consumer choice, drug abuse, health behaviors, behavioral interventions, public policy

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