Discussion Papers 2017

CIRJE-F-1070	"Short-run Incentive and Information in Sequential Adoptions: An Antenatal Care Experiment in Rural Nigeria"
Author Name	Takasaki, Yoshito and Ryoko Sato
Date	October 2017
Full Paper	PDF file
Remarks

Abstract
This paper experimentally studies sequential adoptions of antenatal care in rural Nigeria. We consider two policy targets: nonadopters, who make no adoptions, and late adopters, who make a first adoption late. Incentivizing first adoption can sustainably promote sequential adoptions if nonadopters positively update their belief about the product or shift their dynamic decision (even without learning) or if late adopters hasten their adoption sequence. We jointly examine sustainability and complementarity of interventions. Cash incentive promoted hastening, but not learning or shifting. Information intervention was ineffective. Bundled information, however, nullified the hastening, because the composition of compliers to the incentive changed.
Keywords: Sequential adoptions; Antenatal care; Incentive; Information; Sustainability; Complementarity; Nigeria

Abstract

This paper experimentally studies sequential adoptions of antenatal care in rural Nigeria. We consider two policy targets: nonadopters, who make no adoptions, and late adopters, who make a first adoption late. Incentivizing first adoption can sustainably promote sequential adoptions if nonadopters positively update their belief about the product or shift their dynamic decision (even without learning) or if late adopters hasten their adoption sequence. We jointly examine sustainability and complementarity of interventions. Cash incentive promoted hastening, but not learning or shifting. Information intervention was ineffective. Bundled information, however, nullified the hastening, because the composition of compliers to the incentive changed.

Keywords: Sequential adoptions; Antenatal care; Incentive; Information; Sustainability; Complementarity; Nigeria