The Semblance of Success in Nudging Consumers to Pay Down Credit Card Debt
通过实地实验测试一种助推手段，该手段隐藏自动还款选项，使持卡人只能选择最低还款额。六个月后，仅还最低还款额的比例下降23%，但信用卡债务并未显著减少，因为持卡人常选择略高于最低的还款额，且助推减少了自动还款注册，增加了逾期付款。
We test a nudge in a field experiment on credit cards. The nudge shrouds the autopay enrollment option for cardholders to automatically pay exactly the credit card minimum payment each month. After six months, the nudge decreases the fraction of cardholders who only pay exactly the minimum by 23 percent. However, the nudge does not significantly reduce credit card debt. Nudged cardholders often choose autopay amounts that are only slightly higher than the minimum payment. The nudge reduces autopay enrollment, which increases missed payments. The nudge reduces manual payments by autopay enrollees. Cardholders frequently lacking liquid cash best explains our results.