Working Paper: NBER ID: w30375
Authors: Mallory L. Avery; Osea Giuntella; Peiran Jiao
Abstract: This study investigates the mechanisms affecting sleep choice and explores whether commitment devices and monetary incentives can be used to promote healthier sleep habits. To this end, we conducted a field experiment with college students, providing them incentives to sleep and collecting data from wearable activity trackers, surveys, and time-use diaries. Monetary incentives were effective in increasing sleep duration with some evidence of persistence after the incentive was removed. We uncover evidence of demand for commitment. Our results are consistent with partially sophisticated time-inconsistent preferences and overconfidence, and have implications for the effectiveness of information interventions on sleep choice.
Keywords: sleep deprivation; behavioral economics; commitment devices; monetary incentives; field experiment
JEL Codes: B49; C93; I10
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Monetary incentives (M52) | Sleep duration (C41) |
| Monetary incentives removed (E49) | Sleep duration (C41) |
| Monetary incentives (M52) | Sleep regularity (C22) |
| Monetary incentives (M52) | Screen time (Y60) |