Demand and Supply of Infrequent Payments as a Commitment Device: Evidence from Kenya

S-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review
Year: 2019
Volume: 109
Issue: 2
Pages: 523-55

Authors (2)

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Despite extensive evidence that preferences are often time-inconsistent, there is only scarce evidence of willingness to pay for commitment. Infrequent payments for frequently provided goods and services are a common feature of many markets and they may naturally provide commitment to save for lumpy expenses. Multiple experiments in the Kenyan dairy sector show that: (i) farmers are willing to incur sizable costs to receive infrequent payments as a commitment device, (ii) poor contract enforcement, however, limits competition among buyers in the supply of infrequent payments. We then present a model of demand and supply of infrequent payments and test its additional predictions.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aecrev:v:109:y:2019:i:2:p:523-55
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25