Working Paper: NBER ID: w30414
Authors: Alfredo Burlando; Pradeep Chintagunta; Jessica Goldberg; Melissa Graboyes; Peter Hangoma; Dean Karlan; Mario Macis; Silvia Prina
Abstract: During public health emergencies, spreading accurate information and increasing adherence to recommended behaviors is critical for communal welfare. However, uncertainty, mistrust, and misinformation can slow the adoption of best practices. Preexisting social networks can amplify and endorse information from authorities, and technology makes peer-to-peer messaging scalable and fast. Using text messages and small cash incentives, we test a peer-based information campaign to encourage adherence to recommended COVID-19-related health behaviors in Zambia. None of the treatments affected health behavior among primary study participants or their peers. The suggestion to pass messages to peers increases dissemination, but financial incentives do not have any additional impact.
Keywords: COVID-19; peer outreach; health behavior; Zambia; randomized controlled trial
JEL Codes: H00; I00; O10
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Financial incentives (M52) | dissemination of health information (I10) |
| Peer encouragement (C92) | dissemination of health information (I10) |
| Information shared by peers (C92) | health behavior adherence (I12) |
| dissemination of health information (I10) | health behavior adherence (I12) |