Loss Aversion or Lack of Trust: Why Does Loss Framing Work to Encourage Preventative Health Behaviors?

Emily Beam, Yusufcan Masatlioglu, Tara Watson and Dean Yang

No 29828, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We implemented a field experiment designed to increase participants’ willingness to visit a health clinic. We find differential responses to a $50 incentive framed as a loss versus framed as a gain. We find little support for the notion that loss aversion is responsible for the effectiveness of loss framing. Instead, it appears that loss framing promotes take-up by raising the perceived probability that the incentive will be provided as promised. The results suggest trust is an alternative pathway through which loss framing may affect behavior, and trust may be an important way to promote desirable health behaviors.

JEL-codes: C93 D03 I12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-exp, nep-hea and nep-upt
Note: DEV EH
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Published as Beam, Emily A. & Masatioglu, Yusufcan & Watson, Tara & Yang, Dean, 2023. "Loss aversion or lack of trust: Why does loss framing work to encourage preventive health behaviors?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 104(C).

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