Working Paper: NBER ID: w28825
Authors: John A. List; Ragan Petrie; Anya Samek
Abstract: In the past several decades the experimental method has lent deep insights into economics. One perhaps surprising area that has contributed is the experimental study of children, where advances as varied as the evolution of human behaviors that shape markets and institutions, to how early life influences shape later life outcomes, have been explored. We first develop a framework for economic preference measurement that provides a lens into how to interpret data from experiments with children. Next, we survey work that provides general empirical insights within our framework. Finally, we provide 10 tips for pulling off experiments with children, including factors such as taking into account child competencies, causal identification, and logistical issues related to recruitment and implementation. We envision the experimental study of children as a high growth research area in the coming decades as social scientists begin to more fully appreciate that children are active participants in markets who (might) respond predictably to economic incentives.
Keywords: Experiments; Children; Economic Preferences; Decision Making; Human Capital
JEL Codes: C9; D1; J1
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| children's economic preferences (D11) | decision-making processes (D70) |
| decision-making processes (D70) | future economic outcomes (E66) |
| children's economic preferences (D11) | future economic outcomes (E66) |
| interventions targeting children's preferences (C92) | improved educational outcomes (I24) |
| interventions targeting children's preferences (C92) | improved health outcomes (I14) |
| childhood economic experiences (J13) | adult decision-making (D91) |