The Persistent Power of Behavioral Change: Long-Run Impacts of Temporary Savings Subsidies for the Poor

A-Tier
Journal: American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
Year: 2018
Volume: 10
Issue: 3
Pages: 67-100

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

This paper uses a field experiment to test whether intrahousehold heterogeneity in discount factors leads to inefficient strategic savings behavior. I gave married couples in rural Kenya the opportunity to open both joint and individual bank accounts at randomly assigned interest rates. I also directly elicited discount factors for all individuals in the experiment. Couples who are well matched on discount factors are less likely to use costly individual accounts and respond robustly to relative rates of return between accounts, while their poorly-matched peers do not. Consequently, poorly-matched couples forgo significantly more interest earnings on their savings.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aejapp:v:10:y:2018:i:3:p:67-100
Journal Field
General
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-29