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Gambling, Saving, and Lumpy Liquidity Needs

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  • Sylvan Herskowitz

Abstract

I present evidence that unmet liquidity needs for indivisible, "lumpy," expenditures increase demand for betting as a second-best method of liquidity generation in the presence of financial constraints. With a sample of 1,708 sports bettors in Kampala, Uganda, I show that participants' targeted payouts are linked to anticipated expenditures, while winnings increase lumpy expenditures disproportionately. I show that a randomized savings treatment decreases demand for betting. And I use two lab-in-the-field experiments to show that unmet liquidity needs and saving ability are important mechanisms. These results cannot be explained by betting as a purely normal good.

Suggested Citation

  • Sylvan Herskowitz, 2021. "Gambling, Saving, and Lumpy Liquidity Needs," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 13(1), pages 72-104, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejapp:v:13:y:2021:i:1:p:72-104
    DOI: 10.1257/app.20180177
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Claudio Deiana & Davide Dragone & Ludovica Giua, 2024. "Addictive Consumption, Imperfect Substitutes and Self Control: A Model and an Application to Slot Machines," Working Papers wp1197, Dipartimento Scienze Economiche, Universita' di Bologna.
    2. Chegere, Martin J. & Falco, Paolo & Nieddu, Marco G. & Pandolfi, Lorenzo & Stein, Mattea, 2025. "The Magic of the Game: Experimental Evidence on Sports Betting Behavior," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 240(C).
    3. Steinert, Janina Isabel & Vasumati Satish, Rucha & Stips, Felix & Vollmer, Sebastian, 2022. "Commitment or concealment? Impacts and use of a portable saving device: Evidence from a field experiment in urban India," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 367-398.
    4. Kozo UEDA & Fei Gao, 2024. "How Do Gamblers React to Wins? Evidence from Bank Transaction Data in Japan," CIGS Working Paper Series 24-019E, The Canon Institute for Global Studies.
    5. Shawn Cole & Benjamin Iverson & Peter Tufano, 2022. "Can Gambling Increase Savings? Empirical Evidence on Prize-Linked Savings Accounts," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 68(5), pages 3282-3308, May.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • G51 - Financial Economics - - Household Finance - - - Household Savings, Borrowing, Debt, and Wealth
    • L83 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Sports; Gambling; Restaurants; Recreation; Tourism
    • O12 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Microeconomic Analyses of Economic Development
    • O16 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Financial Markets; Saving and Capital Investment; Corporate Finance and Governance

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