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  • October 2017
  • Article
  • Management Science

Observability Increases the Demand for Commitment Devices

By: Christine L. Exley and Jeffrey K. Naecker
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:5
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Abstract

Previous research often interprets the choice to restrict one’s future opportunity set as evidence for sophisticated time inconsistency. We propose an additional mechanism that may contribute to the demand for commitment technology: the desire to signal to others. We present a field experiment where participants can choose to give up money if they do not follow through with an action. When commitment choices are made public rather than kept private, we find significantly higher uptake rates.

Keywords

Motivation and Incentives; Behavior; Decision Choices and Conditions; Attitudes

Citation

Exley, Christine L., and Jeffrey K. Naecker. "Observability Increases the Demand for Commitment Devices." Management Science 63, no. 10 (October 2017): 3262–3267.
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About The Author

Christine L. Exley

Negotiation, Organizations & Markets
→More Publications

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    By: Billur Aksoy, Christine L. Exley and Judd B. Kessler
More from the Authors
  • Nonprofits in Good Times and Bad Times By: Christine L. Exley, Nils H. Lehr and Stephen J. Terry
  • When Do Individuals Give Up Agency? The Role of Decision Avoidance By: Holly Dykstra, Christine L. Exley and Muriel Niederle
  • The Gender Minority Gaps in Confidence and Self-Evaluations By: Billur Aksoy, Christine L. Exley and Judd B. Kessler
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