Comment on Naivete, Projection Bias, and Habit Formation in Gym Attendance

• 成果类型: Editorial Material
• 署名作者: Marz, Oliver
• 署名单位: Universite Libre de Bruxelles
• 刊物名称: MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0025-1909
• DOI: 10.1287/mnsc.2017.3022
• 发表日期: 2019
• 页码: 2442-2443
• 关键词: Behavioral economics; Experimental economics; habit formation; present bias; Projection bias

摘要

I show that a central result in Acland and Levy [Acland D, Levy MR (2015) Naivete, projection bias, and habit formation in gym attendance. Management Sci. 61(1):146-160] is based on erroneously reported statistical estimates. In an experimental study, the authors provide financial incentives for regular attendance at a gym and report that these incentives induce a habit formation effect, resulting in sustained increased gym attendance after incentives are removed. This habit formation effect is not predicted by participants ex ante. The correct statistical estimates, however, do not confirm a habit formation effect. Participants' ex ante expectations are thus correct in that they do not predict a habit formation effect, as there is none.