Bright Lines, Risk Beliefs, and Risk Avoidance: Evidence from a Randomized Intervention in Bangladesh

44 Pages Posted: 13 Sep 2011

See all articles by Lori Snyder Bennear

Lori Snyder Bennear

Duke University - Nicholas School of the Environment

Alessandro Tarozzi

Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Department of Economics and Business

Alexander Pfaff

Duke University - Policy, Economics, Environment

H. B. Soumya

Duke University

Kazi Matin Ahmed

University of Dhaka

Alexander van Geen

Columbia University - Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: October 1, 2010

Abstract

This paper provides evidence on the effects of risk presentation on health behaviors using data from a cluster randomized controlled trial in risk presentation regarding arsenic in drinking water in Araihazar district of Bangladesh. The intervention was designed to test whether highlighting the existence of a gradient in arsenic risk — exposure risk increases with the level of arsenic and lower arsenic exposure is always better — led to better choices relative to “bright line” information provision that focuses on whether the arsenic level is above or below the country standard of 50 parts per billion (ppb).

Keywords: Beliefs, Information, Health risk, Arsenic, Drinking water, Bangladesh

JEL Classification: O12, Q50

Suggested Citation

Bennear, Lori Snyder and Tarozzi, Alessandro and Pfaff, Alexander and Soumya, H. B. and Ahmed, Kazi Matin and van Geen, Alexander, Bright Lines, Risk Beliefs, and Risk Avoidance: Evidence from a Randomized Intervention in Bangladesh (October 1, 2010). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1926485 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1926485

Lori Snyder Bennear (Contact Author)

Duke University - Nicholas School of the Environment ( email )

Box 90328
Durham, NC 27708-0328
United States

Alessandro Tarozzi

Universitat Pompeu Fabra - Department of Economics and Business ( email )

Barcelona
Spain

Alexander Pfaff

Duke University - Policy, Economics, Environment ( email )

201 Science Drive
Box 90312
Durham, NC 27708-0239
United States

H. B. Soumya

Duke University ( email )

100 Fuqua Drive
Durham, NC 27708-0204
United States

Kazi Matin Ahmed

University of Dhaka ( email )

University of Dhaka
Dhaka 1000
Ramna, Dhaka, Dhaka 1000
Bangladesh

Alexander Van Geen

Columbia University - Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory ( email )

Palisades, NY
United States

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