Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-2010
Publication Title
American Economic Journal. Applied Economics
Department
Department of Economics
Abstract
We designed and tested a voluntary commitment product to help smokers quit smoking. The product (CARES) offered smokers a savings account in which they deposit funds for six months, after which they take a urine test for nicotine and cotinine. If they pass, their money is returned; otherwise, their money is forfeited to charity. Of smokers offered CARES, 11 percent took up, and smokers randomly offered CARES were 3 percentage points more likely to pass the 6-month test than the control group. More importantly, this effect persisted in surprise tests at 12 months, indicating that CARES produced lasting smoking cessation. (JEL D12, I12, O15)
DOI
10.1257/app.2.4.213
Original Citation
Giné, Xavier, Dean Karlan, and Jonathan Zinman. 2010. "Put Your Money Where Your Butt Is: A Commitment Contract for Smoking Cessation." American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 2 (4): 213-35.DOI: 10.1257/app.2.4.213
Dartmouth Digital Commons Citation
Giné, Xavier; Karlan, Dean; and Zinman, Jonathan, "Put Your Money Where Your Butt Is: A Commitment Contract for Smoking Cessation" (2010). Dartmouth Scholarship. 2379.
https://digitalcommons.dartmouth.edu/facoa/2379
