Short on shots: Are calls for cooperative restraint effective in managing a flu vaccines shortage?

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization
Year: 2010
Volume: 76
Issue: 2
Pages: 209-224

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

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

Abstract

We conducted a randomized experiment at the time of the 2004 flu vaccine shortage, providing information about the sharply reduced number of clinics and their schedule, and an appeal on cooperative restraint to a campus population. This strategy was intended to reduce demand for vaccination among non-priority individuals and to free available supplies for the priority population. It failed to achieve its purpose. Information induced a net increase in vaccines distributed and, perversely, the net increase originated entirely in non-priority individuals. The surprising finding is that calls on cooperative restraint induced an uncalled for positive response among priority individuals, while they induced an increase in cheating among non-priority individuals. Age as a qualifying factor was in particular widely abused, with the number of "65 years old" more than twice the predicted value, while about half of the predicted 61-64 years old were missing.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:jeborg:v:76:y:2010:i:2:p:209-224
Journal Field
Theory
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25