Why Do Defaults Affect Behavior? Experimental Evidence from Afghanistan

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Blumenstock, Joshua; Callen, Michael; Ghani, Tarek
• 署名单位: University of California System; University of California Berkeley; University of California System; University of California San Diego; Washington University (WUSTL)
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC REVIEW
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0002-8282
• DOI: 10.1257/aer.20171676
• 发表日期: 2018
• 页码: 2868-2901
• 关键词: time-preferences; field experiment; decision-making; loss aversion; savings; ECONOMICS; incentives; propensity; impacts; poverty

摘要

We report on an experiment examining why default options impact behavior. By randomly assigning employees to different varieties of a salary-linked savings account, we find that default enrollment increases participation by 40 percentage points-an effect equivalent to providing a 50 percent matching incentive. We then use a series of experimental interventions to differentiate between explanations for the default effect, which we conclude is driven largely by present-biased preferences and the cognitive cost of thinking through different savings scenarios. Default assignment also changes employees' attitudes toward saving, and makes them more likely to actively decide to save after the study concludes.