You’re 33% more likely to achieve a goal if you share it with a friend, and 72% more likely if money is on the line. Promise or Pay is a platform that combines these findings from behavioural science to create a more engaging way to improve oneself while contributing to positive social change.

After the clock strikes midnight and the champagne bottle’s emptied, January 1st welcomes the most hopeful of traditions – New Year’s resolutions. But why do they rarely last beyond January? Lizzy Pope, who studies health behaviours, explains why people find it hard to stick to their goals.

Why do people splash out on speciality sausages? Or spend more than £5 on artisanal bread? A new study suggests that rather than wanting quality, a big motivation behind people’s willingness to pay for expensive food is a desire to make a statement about wealth and social standing.