Rational Inattention during a Randomized Controlled Trial

We introduce an information provision experiment into a standard dynamic rational inattention model. We derive analytical results about how the treatment effect varies with characteristics of the environment and the individual. We use these results to discuss findings in the empirical literature on information provision experiments that can be explained by rational inattention of survey respondents and what this interpretation implies about behavior outside the survey. (JEL C90, D83, D91)

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Publication Details

Journal
American Economic Review Insights
Published
2026-02-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1257/aeri.20240509
Primary Topic
Survey Methodology and Nonresponse
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Rational Inattention during a Randomized Controlled Trial

Mirko Wiederholt, Bartosz Maćkowiak
American Economic Review Insights
Survey Methodology and Nonresponse
article

Rational Inattention during a Randomized Controlled Trial

Mirko Wiederholt, Bartosz Maćkowiak
article en

Abstract

We introduce an information provision experiment into a standard dynamic rational inattention model. We derive analytical results about how the treatment effect varies with characteristics of the environment and the individual. We use these results to discuss findings in the empirical literature on information provision experiments that can be explained by rational inattention of survey respondents and what this interpretation implies about behavior outside the survey. (JEL C90, D83, D91)

American Economic Review InsightsVol. 8(1)
Center for Economic and Policy Research (US), European Central Bank (DE), Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (DE)
Openalex Percentile: Top 50%
Survey Methodology and Nonresponse
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