Understanding Mechanisms of Persistence in Prosocial Behavior: Evidence from a Large-Scale Field Experiment
We test whether asking individuals to donate blood leads to a persistent change in behavior and examine the underlying mechanism. In a field experiment, we randomize a phone call asking potential blood donors to turn out and follow them over up to 18 months. We observe significant behavioral persistence for at least 1 year. Using naturally occurring adverse weather conditions as a second instrument for donor turnout allows us to distinguish between action-based persistence (or habit formation per Stigler and Becker) and motivation-based persistence. Our results strongly favor action-based persistence as the underlying mechanism.
Authors
- Lorenz Göette (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1050-0354)
- Simon Haenni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4228-7719)
- Beat M. Frey (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2514-8621)
- Adrian Roethlisberger
- Regula Buchli
- Lingqing Jiang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7822-5769)
- Adrian Bruhin
Institutions
- University of Essex (GB)
- National University of Singapore (SG)
- University of Zurich (CH)
- DRK-Blutspendedienst Baden-Württemberg - Hessen (DE)
- University of Lausanne (CH)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Political Economy Microeconomics
- Published
- 2025-03-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1086/735782
- Primary Topic
- Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Leverhulme Trust
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung