Unshrouding Effects on Demand for a Costly Add-On: Evidence from Bank Overdrafts in Turkey

41 Pages Posted: 16 Feb 2015 Last revised: 6 Apr 2023

See all articles by Sule Alan

Sule Alan

European University Institute; Bilkent University; J-PAL

Sule Alan

University of Essex - Department of Economics

Mehmet Cemalcılar

Yapi Kredi Bank A.S.

Dean S. Karlan

Yale University; Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management; Innovations for Poverty Action; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL); National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Jonathan Zinman

Dartmouth College; Innovations for Poverty Action; Jameel Poverty Action Lab; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Multiple version iconThere are 3 versions of this paper

Date Written: February 2015

Abstract

The pricing and advertising of tied add-ons and overages have come under increasing scrutiny. Working with a large Turkish bank to test SMS direct marketing promotions to 108,000 existing holders of “free” checking accounts, we find that promoting a large discount on the 60% APR charged for overdrafts reduces overdraft usage. In contrast, messages mentioning overdraft availability without mentioning price increase usage. Neither change persists long after messages stop, suggesting that induced overdrafting is not habit-forming. We discuss implications for interventions to promote transparency in pricing and advertising, and for models of shrouded equilibria, limited attention, and salience.

Suggested Citation

Alan, Sule and Alan, Sule and Cemalcılar, Mehmet and Karlan, Dean S. and Karlan, Dean S. and Zinman, Jonathan, Unshrouding Effects on Demand for a Costly Add-On: Evidence from Bank Overdrafts in Turkey (February 2015). NBER Working Paper No. w20956, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2565629

Sule Alan (Contact Author)

European University Institute ( email )

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Bilkent University ( email )

Turkey

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Sule Alan

University of Essex - Department of Economics ( email )

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Mehmet Cemalcılar

Yapi Kredi Bank A.S. ( email )

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Turkey
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Dean S. Karlan

Yale University ( email )

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Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management ( email )

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National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

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Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR) ( email )

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Jonathan Zinman

Dartmouth College ( email )

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United States
603-646-0075 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://https://sites.dartmouth.edu/jzinman/

Innovations for Poverty Action

1731 Connecticut Ave, 4th floor
New Haven, CT 20009
United States

Jameel Poverty Action Lab

E60-246
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
United States

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

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