Transaction costs, the opportunity cost of time and procrastination in charitable giving

A-Tier
Journal: Journal of Public Economics
Year: 2015
Volume: 125
Issue: C
Pages: 54-63

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

We conduct a laboratory experiment to study whether giving people more time to donate to charity reduces donations. People may intend to donate, but because of the transaction costs of doing so, postpone making the payment until they are less busy, and having postponed making the donation once, keep postponing. We conjecture that transaction costs will have a greater effect on donations if the solicitation is received when the opportunity cost of time is high. We find evidence of a transaction cost reducing donations, with the size of this effect depending on the opportunity cost of time, but no statistically significant evidence that giving people more time to donate increases procrastination and thus reduces donations.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:pubeco:v:125:y:2015:i:c:p:54-63
Journal Field
Public
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25