Rational Inattention during a Randomized Controlled Trial

Bartosz Maćkowiak and Mirko Wiederholt

American Economic Review: Insights, 2026, vol. 8, issue 1, 19-35

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-codes: C90 D83 D91 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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DOI: 10.1257/aeri.20240509

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