Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/272396 
Year of Publication: 
2022
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 15769
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
We study the effect of monetary incentives on effort in a prosocial task: writing letters encouraging voter turnout. Volunteers are randomized to receive no incentive, unconditional upfront payment, payment conditional on completing the task, or to have a choice between the two payment schemes. The unconditional and conditional payment both increase task completion rates by about 18 percentage points (43%). Giving people a choice between the payment scheme doubles the effect on task completion (35 p.p., 84%). Unlike unconditional payments, a choice over contracts also increases time spent on the task and letter quality. Survey responses suggest that giving people a choice is effective because it increases task ownership rather than the desire to return a favor or avoid feelings of guilt.
Subjects: 
self determination
gift exchange
guilt aversion
labor supply
JEL: 
D86
D91
J22
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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