Choice Architecture to Improve Financial Decision Making
38 Pages Posted: 30 Nov 2017
There are 2 versions of this paper
Choice Architecture to Improve Financial Decision Making
Date Written: November 10, 2017
Abstract
We exploit the principles of choice architecture to evaluate interventions in the market for reloadable prepaid cards. Participants are randomized into three card menu presentation treatments - the market status quo, a regulation-inspired reform, or an enhanced reform designed to minimize attribute overload - and offered choices based on prior structural estimation of individual preferences. Consumers routinely choose incorrectly under the status quo, with tentative evidence the regulation-inspired presentation may increase best card choice, and clear evidence the enhanced reform reduces worst card choice. Welfare analysis suggests the regulation-inspired presentation offers modest gains, while the enhanced policy generates substantial benefits.
Keywords: consumer finance, prepaid card, choice architecture, attribute overload, experiment, structural estimation, time preference, risk preference, convex time budget, welfare
JEL Classification: C90, D04, D18, D91, G20
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation