Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/90086 
Year of Publication: 
2013
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 7610
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
The behavioral relevance of non-binding default options is well established. While most research has focused on decision makers' responses to a given default, we argue that this individual decision making perspective is incomplete. Instead, a comprehensive understanding of the foundation of default effects requires taking account of the strategic interaction between default setters and decision makers. We provide a theoretical framework to analyze which default options arise in such interactions, and which defaults are more likely to affect behavior. The key drivers are the relative level of information of default setters and decision makers, and their alignment of interests. We show that default effects are more pronounced if interests of the default setter and decision makers are more closely aligned. Moreover, decision makers are more likely to follow default options the less they are privately informed about the relevant decision environment. In the second part of the paper we experimentally test the main predictions of the model. We report evidence that both the alignment of interests as well as the relative level of information are key determinants of default effects. An important policy relevant conclusion is that potential distortions arising from default options are unlikely if decision makers are either well-informed or reflect on the interests of default setters.
Subjects: 
default options
libertarian paternalism
behavioral economics
incentives
laboratory experiment
JEL: 
D03
D18
D83
C92
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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