Using Preference Estimates to Customize Incentives: An Application to Polio Vaccination Drives in Pakistan

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of the European Economic Association
Year: 2023
Volume: 21
Issue: 4
Pages: 1428-1477

Authors (5)

James Andreoni (not in RePEc) Michael Callen (not in RePEc) Karrar Hussain (American University in Bulgari...) Muhammad Yasir Khan (University of Pittsburgh) Charles Sprenger (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.804 = (α=2.01 / 5 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

We use estimates of time preferences to customize incentives for polio vaccinators in Lahore, Pakistan. We measure time preferences using intertemporal allocations of effort, and use these estimates to construct individually tailored incentives. We evaluate the effect of matching contract terms to discounting parameters in a subsequent experiment with the same vaccinators. Our tailored policy is compared with alternatives that either rely on atheoretic reduced-form relationships for policy guidance or apply the same policy to all individuals. We find that contracts tailored to individual discounting outperform this range of policy alternatives.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:jeurec:v:21:y:2023:i:4:p:1428-1477.
Journal Field
General
Author Count
5
Added to Database
2026-01-25