dr. K. van der Swaluw (Koen)

Dr. Koen van der Swaluw is Associate Professor in Behavioral Health Economics at Radboud University. He combines this role with a position as Senior Policy Advisor for Knowledge and Strategy at the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS).

At Radboud University, his research explores how health policies can better reflect realistic patterns of human behavior, such as smoking, dietary choices, and physical activity. His PhD thesis received both the Tilburg University Dissertation Award and the Public Health Dissertation Award. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was part of the official Corona Behavioral Unit and coordinated a research team providing high-stakes behavioral policy advice.

Dr. van der Swaluw supervises PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and students examining the intersections of economics, psychology, and health policy. His teaching in Health Economics encourages critical reflection on pressing issues such as solidarity in healthcare, sustainability of health systems, scarcity of resources, and individual freedom of choice.

Within the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, he is part of the Chief Science Officer (CSO) team, which works to embed scientific knowledge into policymaking. The CSO team provides evidence-based insights, helps design governance structures, develops strategic research agendas, and fosters cross-sectoral collaboration through networks such as the Behavioral Insights Network Netherlands. In this capacity, Van der Swaluw contributes to high-level policy advice for the ministry’s leadership, ensuring that decisions are informed by robust scientific evidence and cutting-edge behavioral economic insights.

• Gedragseconomie en beleid