Why Don't We Sleep Enough? A Field Experiment among College Students

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Avery, Mallory; Giuntella, Osea; Jiao, Peiran
• 署名单位: Monash University; Pennsylvania Commonwealth System of Higher Education (PCSHE); University of Pittsburgh; National Bureau of Economic Research; Maastricht University; University of Oxford
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6535
• DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_01242
• 发表日期: 2025-01
• 页码: 65-77
• 关键词: habit formation; self-control; HEALTH; incentives; duration; allocation

摘要

This study investigates the mechanisms affecting sleep choice and explores whether commitment devices and monetary incentives can be used to promote healthier sleep habits. To this end, we conducted a field experiment with college students, providing them incentives to sleep and collecting data from wearable activity trackers, surveys, and time-use diaries. Monetary incentives were effective in increasing sleep duration with some evidence of persistence after the incentive was removed. We uncover evidence of demand for commitment. Our results are consistent with partially sophisticated time-inconsistent preferences and overconfidence and have implications for the effectiveness of information interventions on sleep choice.