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The Effect of Dispatch Methods on a Recruiting Campaign for a Business Survey: Evidence from Germany

Author

Listed:
  • Przemyslaw Brandt
  • Katrin Demmelhuber
  • Klaus Wohlrabe

Abstract

The ifo Institute for Economic Research has been conducting the ifo business survey since its foundation in 1949. To ensure stability of participation rates, regular sample recruitment is indispensable. Does the dispatch method matter for response rates of a recruiting campaign? To answer this question, we conducted a controlled experiment involving invitation letters sent out to over 8,000 German industrial firms in May 2019. Our results show that standard mailing significantly increases the response rate compared to “Dialogpost” (bulk mail). From a cost perspective, costs for standard mailing outweigh this effect.

Suggested Citation

  • Przemyslaw Brandt & Katrin Demmelhuber & Klaus Wohlrabe, 2020. "The Effect of Dispatch Methods on a Recruiting Campaign for a Business Survey: Evidence from Germany," CESifo Working Paper Series 8432, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_8432
    as

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    File URL: https://www.cesifo.org/DocDL/cesifo1_wp8432.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Stefan Sauer & Klaus Wohlrabe, 2018. "The New ifo Business Climate Index for Germany," CESifo Forum, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 19(02), pages 59-64, July.
    2. repec:ces:ifofor:v::y:2018:i::p: is not listed on IDEAS
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    business survey; recruitment; response rate; postage; bulk mail; envelope;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C83 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Survey Methods; Sampling Methods
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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