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Conditional cash lotteries increase COVID-19 vaccination rates

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  • Barber, Andrew
  • West, Jeremy

Abstract

Conditional cash lotteries (CCLs) provide people with opportunities to win monetary prizes only if they make specific behavioral changes. We conduct a case study of Ohio's Vax-A-Million initiative, the first CCL targeting COVID-19 vaccinations. Forming a synthetic control from other states, we find that Ohios incentive scheme increases the vaccinated share of state population by 1.5 percent (0.7 pp), costing sixty-eight dollars per person persuaded to vaccinate. We show this causes significant reductions in COVID-19, preventing at least one infection for every six vaccinations that the lottery had successfully encouraged. These findings are promising for similar CCL public health initiatives.

Suggested Citation

  • Barber, Andrew & West, Jeremy, 2022. "Conditional cash lotteries increase COVID-19 vaccination rates," Santa Cruz Department of Economics, Working Paper Series qt1062k4v8, Department of Economics, UC Santa Cruz.
    • Handle: RePEc:cdl:ucscec:qt1062k4v8
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Vaccine Related; Prevention; Immunization; Good Health and Well Being; COVID-19; COVID-19 Vaccines; Humans; Motivation; SARS-CoV-2; Vaccination; Behavioral economics; Financial incentives; Health policy; health policy; financial incentives; behavioral economics; Public Health and Health Services; Applied Economics; Econometrics; Health Policy & Services; Applied economics; Policy and administration;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D78 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Positive Analysis of Policy Formulation and Implementation
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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