The hidden costs of nudging: Experimental evidence from reminders in fundraising
通过两个现场实验，发现慈善机构的提醒邮件虽增加了捐款，但也导致更多人退订邮件，这种隐藏成本若被忽视会高估福利效应十倍，甚至可能带来负福利。
We document the hidden costs of a popular nudge and show how these costs distort policy making when neglected. In a field experiment with a charity, we find reminders increasing intended behavior (donations), but also increasing avoidance behavior (unsubscriptions from the mailing list). We develop a dynamic model of donation and unsubscription behavior with limited attention. We test the model in a second field experiment which also provides evidence that the hidden costs are anticipated. The model is estimated structurally to perform a welfare analysis. Not accounting for hidden costs overstates the welfare effects for donors by factor ten and hides potential negative welfare effects of the charity.