The Use of Financial Incentives to Prevent Undesirable Behaviors

de Walque, Damien

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: INCENTIVES;    BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION;    HIV AIDS;    SMOKING;    ILLICIT DRUGS;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-8424
RP-ID  :  WPS8424

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

Behaviors that are putting people'shealth and well-being at risk are widespread in thedeveloping world and some of them, like smoking andunhealthy diets, are on the rise. Some of these behaviorscan be prohibited or prevented by taxation. But financialincentives such as conditional cash transfers are alsoincreasingly proposed and tested to discourage suchbehaviors, in domains as varied as HIV/AIDS, drugs, alcohol,smoking, obesity, or early marriage prevention. This paperpresents the theoretical justification for using suchincentives, distinguishing between the price, incomeeffects, and the nudge effects. The growing literature aboutthe effectiveness of financial incentives to preventundesirable behaviors is reviewed in detail for each type ofharmful behavior. Finally, the paper discusses the long-termsustainability of such incentives, a key issue if they areto be scaled up beyond pilot programs and research projects.The current evidence on whether such incentives have animpact after they are discontinued is mixed. Some designfeatures, like lotteries or commitment devices, could inducesavings as well as increase effectiveness, thereforeimproving sustainability.