Selecting the Most Effective Nudge: Evidence From a Large‐Scale Experiment on Immunization

S-Tier
Journal: Econometrica
Year: 2025
Volume: 93
Issue: 4
Pages: 1183-1223

Authors (11)

Abhijit Banerjee (Massachusetts Institute of Tec...) Arun G. Chandrasekhar (not in RePEc) Suresh Dalpath (not in RePEc) Esther Duflo (not in RePEc) John Floretta (not in RePEc) Matthew O. Jackson (Stanford University) Harini Kannan (not in RePEc) Francine Loza (not in RePEc) Anirudh Sankar (not in RePEc) Anna Schrimpf (not in RePEc) Maheshwor Shrestha (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.731 = (α=2.01 / 11 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

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

Abstract

Policymakers often choose a policy bundle that is a combination of different interventions in different dosages. We develop a new technique—treatment variant aggregation (TVA)—to select a policy from a large factorial design. TVA pools together policy variants that are not meaningfully different and prunes those deemed ineffective. This allows us to restrict attention to aggregated policy variants, consistently estimate their effects on the outcome, and estimate the best policy effect adjusting for the winner's curse. We apply TVA to a large randomized controlled trial that tests interventions to stimulate demand for immunization in Haryana, India. The policies under consideration include reminders, incentives, and local ambassadors for community mobilization. Cross‐randomizing these interventions, with different dosages or types of each intervention, yields 75 combinations. The policy with the largest impact (which combines incentives, ambassadors who are information hubs, and reminders) increases the number of immunizations by 44% relative to the status quo. The most cost‐effective policy (information hubs, ambassadors, and SMS reminders, but no incentives) increases the number of immunizations per dollar by 9.1% relative to the status quo.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:wly:emetrp:v:93:y:2025:i:4:p:1183-1223
Journal Field
General
Author Count
11
Added to Database
2026-01-24