ICES Seminar in Experimental Economics and Game Theory

Save To Win: Using Contests to Promote Savings

Friday, September 18, 2020 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM EDT
Online Location, Zoom Meeting

The ICES Seminar in Experimental Economics and Game Theory of the Fall 2020 semester will feature:

Roman Sheremeta

Case Western Reserve University

Save To Win: Using Contests to Promote Savings 

 

Please contact ICES Office Manager (sbahabib@gmu.edu) for Zoom link.

 

Abstract

We ask whether linking savings accounts to contests can promote saving. We do this by offering contest-linked accounts to individuals in rural Uganda where poverty is a serious problem. Our design builds off of results in experimental economics of excessive competitiveness in contests, with the goal of harnessing this behavior for the good. We find that, properly designed, we encourage savings beyond both pre-treatment levels and the control group. We explore reasonable heterogeneous treatment effects and document long-lasting impacts on wealth.

 

For more information about the Seminar Series, please visit the Seminar Schedule homepage.