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Nudging charitable giving: Three field experiments

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  • Zarghamee, Homa S.
  • Messer, Kent D.
  • Fooks, Jacob R.
  • Schulze, William D.
  • Wu, Shang
  • Yan, Jubo

Abstract

We present three field experiments that probe the influence of choice architecture on the contributions of a total of 328 participants to real charities. In the first experiment, framing a one-time donation opportunity as an opt-out as opposed to opt-in decision significantly increases donations to an environmental non-profit. In the second experiment, an automatic donation mechanism is provided that allows subjects to self-select into an opt-out framing; when combined with incentive-neutral, social-norm supporting activities (cheap talk and voting), automatic donations sustain increased contributions over a ten-month study period to an HIV/AIDS-related charity. In the third experiment, we study the extent to which the mention of HIV/AIDS in the charity's informational material impacts the emotions and donations of potential donors. In this case the connection to HIV/AIDS does not elicit stigma, but we do find that changes in mood from exposure to the charity's informational material predict increased donations, and that donors experience an improved mood from donating.

Suggested Citation

  • Zarghamee, Homa S. & Messer, Kent D. & Fooks, Jacob R. & Schulze, William D. & Wu, Shang & Yan, Jubo, 2017. "Nudging charitable giving: Three field experiments," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 137-149.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:66:y:2017:i:c:p:137-149
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2016.04.008
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    2. Leah H. Palm-Forster & Paul J. Ferraro & Nicholas Janusch & Christian A. Vossler & Kent D. Messer, 2019. "Behavioral and Experimental Agri-Environmental Research: Methodological Challenges, Literature Gaps, and Recommendations," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 73(3), pages 719-742, July.
    3. Diederich, Johannes & Epperson, Raphael & Goeschl, Timo, 2021. "How to Design the Ask? Funding Units vs. Giving Money," Working Papers 0698, University of Heidelberg, Department of Economics.
    4. Diederich, Johannes & Epperson, Raphael & Goeschl, Timo, 2023. "How to Design the Ask? Funding Units vs. Giving Money," Working Papers 0731, University of Heidelberg, Department of Economics.
    5. Lemken, Dominic, 2020. "When do defaults stick and when are they ethical? - taxonomy, systematic review and design recommendations," Key Food Choices and Climate Change Project 307568, Georg-August-Universitaet Goettingen, Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development.
    6. Kee, Jennifer & Segovia, Michelle S. & Saboury, Piruz & Palma, Marco A., 2022. "Appealing to generosity to reduce food calorie intake: A natural field experiment," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C).
    7. Heist, H. Daniel & Cnaan, Ram A., 2018. "Price and agency effects on charitable giving behavior," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 129-138.
    8. Li, Tongzhe & Fooks, Jacob & Messer, Kent D., 2017. "Residents’ Preferences in Adopting Water Runoff Management Practices: Examining the Effect of Behavioral Nudges in a Field Experiment," 2017 Annual Meeting, July 30-August 1, Chicago, Illinois 259127, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    9. Ghesla, Claus & Grieder, Manuel & Schmitz, Jan & Stadelmann, Marcel, 2020. "Pro-environmental incentives and loss aversion: A field experiment on electricity saving behavior," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Choice architecture; Charitable donations; Field experiments; Nudges;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C9 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments

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