Riccardo Viale is an Italian cognitive scientist, epistemologist and behavioral economist known for his studies on bounded rationality and the application of cognitive sciences to methodology and epistemology of social science, economic theory, public administration and public policies. Since 2001, full professor of cognitive economics and behavioral sciences at the University of Milan Bicocca and at LUISS, he has been a fellow and visiting scholar at Oxford University; Luigi Bocconi University, Milan; University of California, San Diego; Rice University, Houston; Columbia University, New York; Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin; Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing.
Biography
Riccardo Viale graduated in Medicine and Surgery and specialized in Psychiatry at the University of Turin. After his doctoral studies from 1985 to 1988 at Oxford in philosophy of science, he became a researcher at the CNR, professor of Logic and Epistemology at the Bocconi University of Milan (from 1988 to 1996), associate professor of sociology of science at the State University of Milan (from 1992 to 2001), full professor of Social Science Methodology and professor of cognitive economics and behavioral sciences (from 2001 to 2023) at the University of Milan Bicocca; permanent professor of behavioral economics at the National School of Administration in Rome (from 2004 to 2016); Since 2006, he has taught behavioral economics at the Department of Political Sciences at LUISS in Rome. He is currently president of Behavioral Insights Bicocca and scientific director of the Master “Behavioral design for public utilities and services” of the University of Milan Bicocca and the Polytechnic of Milan. He is co-editor in chief of Mind & Society- Adaptive Behaviors under Risk and Uncertainty.
From 1982 to today he has been a fellow, visiting scholar and lecturer at Oxford University; Interuniversity Center of Dubrovnik; University of Aix en Provence; Rice University, Department of Psychology, Houston; University of Freiburg; Federal University of Rio de Janeiro; University of California, Department of Psychology, Santa Barbara; University of Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam; Universidade Federal Fluminense of Niteroi, Brazil; Columbia University, Department of Psychology; Harvard University, Behavioral Insights Group; University of Pennsylvania, Laboratory of Behavioral Ethics, Philadelphia; Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin; Ecole Normale Superieur, Department de Science Cognitive, Paris; New York University, Department of Psychology; OECD, Paris; Universidad Complutense de Madrid; Sorbonne University, Paris; College de France, Paris; Chinese Academy of Science, Institute of Psychology, Beijing; Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil; Facultade de Economia, Università de l’Avana, Cuba.
Riccardo Viale is the author of many books including 2022 Nudging, Cambridge: The Mit Press; 2021 Handbook of Bounded Rationality, London: Routledge; 2018 Beyond Nudge. Freedom of Choice, Happiness and Behavior, (with a foreword by Cass Susnstein) Bologna: Il Mulino; 2013 Methodological Cognitivism, Vol. 2 Cognition, Science, and Innovation, Springer; 2012 Methodological Cognitivism, Vol 1 Mind, Rationality and Society, Springer; 1992 (reprinted in 2008) Economics, Bounded Rationality and the Cognitive Revolution (with H. Simon, M. Egidi and R. Marris), Brookfield: Edward Elgar; 1991 Method and society in science, Milan: Franco Angeli.
Riccardo Viale has held various institutional positions in Italy and abroad. Among others, in 1992 he was coordinator of the Committee on Research and Innovation of the President of the Council of Ministers; in 1990 collaborator of Jacques Delors’ Cellule de Prospective at the European Commission; from 2010 to 2014 director of the Italian Cultural Institute in New York; since 2020 scientific head of the Behavioral Analysis team of the Department of Public Function of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. Finally he was Founder and President of the Rosselli Foundation of Turin (from 1988 to 2015); Founder and Secretary General of the Herbert Simon Society (from 2006 to today); founder, general manager (from 2001 to 2010) and President of scientific committee (from 2018 to today) of Fondazione Cotec per l’innovazione; founder and Secretary General of Triple Helix Association (from 2009 to today).
Riccardo Viale has been member of the following associations:
Academic Associations Membership
- American Psychological Asssociation
- Cognitive Science Society
- European Association of Decision Making
- Associazione Italiana di Scienze Cognitive
- Società Italiana di Logica e Filosofia della Scienza
- American Economic Association
- Behavioral Science and Policy Association
- Society of Judgement and Decision Making
- Philosophy of Science Association
- Herbert Simon Society
- Triple Helix Association
- Oxford University Alumni
Associations Membership
- Master’s Circle, 1263 Society of Balliol College, Oxford University
- Oxford Union Society
- Metropolitan Museum Patron, New York
- New York Athletic Club
- Villa Vigoni
- Club of Venice
Main Scientific Responsibilities
2026
- Member of the Honorary Committee of ANFA Italy (Non-profit research, dissemination and networking project promoting a multidisciplinary approach to architecture).
2025
- ERC-European Research Council Reviewer and Panel Member of SH4 (The Human Mind and Its Complexity: Cognitive science, psychology, linguistics, education) Consolidator Grants.
- Member of the Editorial Board of Triple Helix (Brill).
2024
- Scientific director of the Study commissioned by the Department of Information of Italian Prime Minister on “Behavioral tools to fight aganst disinformation”;
- Scientific director of IFEL study on Behavioral Insights Team for Italian City Governemnts.
2002 to today
- C-ochair of Kathy Wilkes Initiative on Mind, Philosophy and Society of Oxford University
2022
- ERC-European Research Council Reviewer and Panel Member of SH4 (The Human Mind and Its Complexity: Cognitive science, psychology, linguistics, education) Consolidator Grants
- Scientific director of the IFEL study on Behavioral Insights for sustainable mobility
- Scientific director of Roma Capitale study on the start-up of a Rome Behavioral Insights Team.
- Scientific director of a study commissioned by Minister of Infrastructures and Sustainable Mobility on “Behavioral approach to mobility security”.
2020
- ERC-European Research Council Reviewer and Panel Member of SH4 (The Human Mind and Its Complexity: Cognitive science, psychology, linguistics, education) Consolidator Grants
- Winner of the NATO Award for a WS on “AI, Cognitive Sciences to fight Disinformation”
- Scientific director of SNA-National School of Government Research on Organizational Citizenship Behaviour in Public Administration
- Scientific director of IFEL study on Behavioral Insights and City Fiscal Policy.
2019
- Member of the editorial board of the Revew of Administration, Society, and Innovation -Scientific Director of the IVASS Survey on Italian Insurance Literacy and Behaviour
2018 to today
- President of Advisory Board of Triple Helix Association
- Person in charge of the training on Behavioral Public Policy and Organization at Agenzia della Coesione (Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri)
2017 to today
- President of Behavioral Insights Bicocca (BIB), an Academic and Research Centre on behavioural sciences and public decision making of University of Milano Bicocca
2015 to today
- President of the Cognitive Insight Team, Torino
2013 to today
- Member of the Summer School Faculty at Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin
- Member of Scientific Committee of the journal “The Future of Science and Ethics”.
- Member of the Advisory Board of the Studies in Applied Philosophy, Epistemology and Rational EthicsSAPERE (Springer);
- Associate Editor Triple Helix: A Journal of University-Industry-Government Innovation and Entrepreneurship of the Triple Helix Association
2010 to 2014
- Member of the Board of Guarantors of th Italian Academy, Columbia University, New York
2009 to today
- Founder and Secretary General of Triple Helix Association
2008 to today
- Founder and Secretary General of Herbert Simon Society
2007 to today
- Director of the series “Mente, Cervello ed Economia” Milano: Sole 24 Ore
2006 to today
- Member of the Scientific Committee of the Centre of Interdisciplinary Studies in Economics, Psychology and Social Sciences (CISEPS), University of Milano Bicocca
1999 to today
- Editor in Chief di Mind & Society – Cognitive Studies in Economics and Social Sciences (Springer-Verlag)
1997 to 2015
- Scientific Director of LaSCo – Laboratorio di Scienze Cognitive e della Complessità
1992 to 1999
- Director and founder of Lascomes-Laboratorio di Scienze Cognitive applicate alle Scienze Economico-Sociali della Università Bocconi di Milano
1992 to today
- Member of the editorial board of Sistemi Intelligenti, Rivista Italiana di Scineze Cognitive ed Intelligenza Artificiale, Il Mulino
1992 to 2005
- Co-editor in chief of International Studies in the Philosophy of Science
1987 to 1992
- Researcher at National Research Council in Milano
Main Institutional and Professional Responsibilities
2025
- Appointed by the Secretary General of the Italian Prime Minister to propose a project for the creation of the Behavioral Insights Team of Italian Government.
2024
- Member of the Streering Committee of Future Ecosystem
2022 to 2024
- Nominated in the Group of Experts dello STEMI (Struttura Organizzativa per la Transizione Ecologica della Mobilità e delle Infrastrtture) del Ministero delle Infrastructure e della Mobilità Sostenibile.
- External Expert of Studio Ambrosetti-European House
2020 to today
- Head of Italy Behavioral Insights Team (IBIT), Prime Minister Department of Civil Service
2019-2020
- Appointed by the Prime Minister Department of Civil Service, Commisioner for the Performance of Public Administration
2019 to today
- President of Scientific Committee and vice-president of the board of Fondazione Cotec for Innovation
- Associate Member of Club of Venice
2017
- Coordinator of the Task Force on Nudging, Regione Lazio, Roma.
2010 to today
- Columnist of Corriere della Sera
- Founder and Chairman of LaFondazione NY, New York
2010 to 2014
- Director of Istituto Italiano di Cultura di New York (MAE); Consul for cultural affairs in NY, first Councilor of Italian Embassy.
2003 to 2014
- Founder and Member of Board of Directors of “Foundation for Italian Art and Culture” (FIAC) di New York
2002 to 2015
- President of Fondazione Rosselli
2001
- Founder of Fondazione Cotec per l’Innovazione Tecnologica, di Roma
2001 to 2010
- Member of Executive Committee of Fundación Cotec España
2001 to 2010
- General Director and CEO of Fondazione Cotec per l’Innovazione Tecnologica, di Roma
2001 to 2006
- Member of Technical Secretariat of Minister dell’Università e della Ricerca
2001 to 2002
- Extraordinary Commissioner of ISPRI (Istituto di studi socio-economici sull’innovazione e le politiche della ricerca) of C.N.R. di Roma
1997 to 2001
- Co-chairman of the Scientific Network of ESF (European Science Foundation) “Human Reasoning and Decision Making
2004
- Member of International Advisory Panel New Opportunities for Research Funding Agency Co-operation in Europe (NORFACE) ERA-NET Project of European Commission
2002 to 2006
- National Representative of 6th Framework Programme on R&S European Commission, Science and Society
2004 to 2012
- Columnist of Sole 24 Ore
2000 to 2015
- Director of LIRA (Laboratorio sull’Innovazione, la Ricerca e l’Impresa) del Dipartimento di Sociologia e Ricerca Sociale dell’Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca
1998 to 2003
- Columnist of La Stampa di Torino
1995
- National Representative in the 4th Framework Programme TSER (Targeted Socio-Economic Research) European Commission
1993
- Coordinator of The Committee on Research and Innovation of the Prime Minister.
1992 to 2002
- National Representative in the Technical Committee for the Social Sciences of COST (Cooperation in the field of Science and Technology) European Commission
1990
- Scientific advisor of the Minister of Scientific and Technological Research
1990 to 2000
- Director of Lascomes (Laboratorio sulle scienze cognitive e sociali) dell’Università Bocconi di Milano
1988 to 2002
- Director of Fondazione Rosselli
1988
- Founder of Fondazione Rosselli
Reviewer of
- European Research Council;
- The MIT Press;
- Springer–Nature;
- Royal Society;
- Routledge;
- Elgar;
- Frontiers;
- Alexander von-Humboldt Foundation;
- Acta Psychologica;
- Behavioral Public Policy;
- Behavior and Brain Sciences;
- Il Mulino;
- Università Bocconi di Milano;
- LUISS, Rome;
- Triple Helix Journal;
- Italian Minister of University and Research;
- CNR;
- European Science Foundation;
- Compagnia di San Paolo;
- Discover Psychology;
- Mind&Society;
- International Journal of Philosophy of Science;
- Social Epistemology;
- Journal of Institutional economics;
- Open Mind: Discoveries in Cognitive Science.
Education and Training
1987
- CNR Nato Fellow at University of Oxford
1985-1987
- Member of Balliol College and D.Phil candidate of University of Oxford
1987 (21/10)
- Post Graduate Expecialization in Psychiatry at University of Turin
1982
- Research Fellow at the Inter University Centre for Post Graduate Studies, Dubrovnik, Jugoslavia
1981 (21/9)
- MD-Medical Doctor (110/110 magna cum laude and dignity of the press), at University of Turin