Jason Kerwin, University of Minnesota
| When |
Feb 22, 2022
from 12:00 PM to 01:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Where | In Person - 2141K (Dean's Office Conference Room) |
| Contact Name | Jennifer Doiron |
| Contact Phone | 301-405-6403 |
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About the Presentation
Health behaviors are plagued by self-control problems, and commitment devices are frequently proposed as a solution. We show that a simple alternative works even better: appointments. We randomly offer HIV testing appointments and financial commitment devices to high-risk men in Malawi. Appointments are much more effective than financial commitment devices, more than doubling testing rates. In contrast, most men who take up financial commitment devices lose their investments. Appointments address procrastination without the potential drawback of commitment failure, and also address limited memory problems. Appointments have the potential to increase demand for healthcare in the developing world.
About the Speaker
Jason Kerwin currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota and an Affiliated Professor at J-PAL. He received his Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Michigan, where he was also an Economic Demography Trainee at Michigan’s Population Studies Center. His research focuses on understanding the choices people in developing countries make about health, education, employment, and savings, with a specific focus on Malawi, Uganda, and India.
Note: Seminar is on a Tuesday and NOT on the typical Monday schedule and note location is in Tydings 2141K (BSOS Dean’s Office Conference Room). This will be held as an in-person seminar that will also be held hybrid. For the best experience of the speaker, the balance towards in-person is preferred for all possible. Please therefore register using either the link for the in person RSVP or using the registration link for the virtual zoom meeting. Same seminar, but please register for the method you are able to attend.
Location IN PERSON: in TYDINGS 2141K (BSOS Dean’s Office Conference Room). We are requesting advanced registration so that we can track capacity. Please use this link to RSVP.
Location ONLINE VIA ZOOM: Online via Zoom - Zoom Link to Register . Upon registration you will receive an automatically generated email with the direct link for the seminar.
MPRC public events for Spring 2022 will be a mix of in person and online via Zoom. For in person events, all event attendees must follow current protocols