The (Un)Compromise Effect

28 Pages Posted: 16 May 2018

See all articles by Mathias Ekström

Mathias Ekström

Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) - Department of Economics; Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN)

Date Written: May 2, 2018

Abstract

The compromise effect—i.e., the preference for the middle option—is an established bias in behavioral economics, but has not been experimentally validated in the field. In the current study I test the compromise effect in a natural context, and whether this bias can be used to stimulate active choice—the (un)compromise effect. In a mail fund raiser for a large US hospital, I evaluate their baseline ask string [$10, $50, $100, $ ] to an extended version [$10, $50, $100, $250, $500, $ ]. In line with the compromise effect, the extended ask string increases the average amount given and the share of donors giving $100, which is now the middle option. Importantly, however, and in line with a model of contextual inference, revealing the middle option is not necessary for the effect to arise. The (un)compromise ask string [$10, $500, $ ] generates the same average amount given and same share giving $100, as the extended ask string—the only difference being that 90 percent of donors, instead of 30 percent, use the open-ask alternative. Hence, by only providing informative end points of a distribution, organizations can benefit from the compromise effect and at the same time promote individuality by stimulating active choice. I discuss theoretical and practical implications of the results.

Keywords: Compromise effect; Consumer choice; Field experiments; Charitable giving

JEL Classification: C93; D03; D64

Suggested Citation

Ekström, Mathias, The (Un)Compromise Effect (May 2, 2018). NHH Dept. of Economics Discussion Paper No. 10/2018, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3179361 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3179361

Mathias Ekström (Contact Author)

Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) - Department of Economics ( email )

Helleveien 30
N-5035 Bergen
Norway
+47 55959817 (Phone)

Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN) ( email )

Box 55665
Grevgatan 34, 2nd floor
Stockholm, SE-102 15
Sweden

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
109
Abstract Views
811
Rank
450,735
PlumX Metrics