Room: Phillips 219
Time: Mon 10:15 AM-11:45 AM

New Evidence from Behavioral Economics on Exercise and Weight Loss

Chair: Heather Royer (University of California, Santa Barbara)

Session Description

This 3-paper session examines the effect of different economic incentives on two health-related outcomes: weight and exercise. While the effectiveness of incentives in each of these research areas is well-studied, we know much less about the appropriate structure for incentives and the long-lasting effects of incentives. These papers provide important contrasts by each looking different incentive schemes, and hopefully, together they can help us understand the optimal structure of incentives.

Key Terms None Listed

Session Organizer: Mark Stehr (Drexel University)

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Presentations

1. Habit Formation and Naivete in Gym Attendance: Evidence from a Field Experiment

   Presenter: Matthew Levy (Harvard University)

   Discussant: Joseph Price (Brigham Young University)

2. Financial incentives for longer-term weight loss: A randomized controlled trial

   Presenter: Kevin Volpp (University of Pennsylvania)

   Discussant: John Cawley (Cornell University)

3. Incentives and Commitments for Exercise: Evidence from a Field Experiment at an On‐site Corporate Fitness Center

   Presenter: Mark Stehr (Drexel University)

   Discussant: Tanguy Brachet (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia)