The role of attention and information for behavioral change

Research output: ThesisDoctoral thesis 1 (Research UU / Graduation UU)

Abstract

This dissertation aims to analyze the role of attention and information for behavioral change in a policy setting. All projects experimentally study information search and attention either directly or indirectly. The dissertation begins with offering a theoretical and experimental benchmark; it discusses the main facet of search and attention and the role of inattention in informed decision-making. The chapters are illustrations of inattention in policymaking that show the different aspects of inattention in the making, execution, and testing of different policies. In the first chapter, a theoretical framework is proposed and discussed. Thereafter it discusses the search and attention of civil servants in the policy exploration and development phase. Two applications of inattentive decision-makers are studied in the second part of the dissertation. One application tests a policy to help inattentive decision-makers in a consumer context, and the other examines the behavioral response to inattentive policy execution in the realm of taxation.
Original languageEnglish
QualificationDoctor of Philosophy
Awarding Institution
  • Utrecht University
Supervisors/Advisors
  • Rosenkranz, Stephanie, Primary supervisor
  • Rigtering, Coen, Co-supervisor
Award date3 Feb 2023
Publisher
Print ISBNs978-94-91870-53-8
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 3 Feb 2023

Keywords

  • attention
  • information
  • search
  • experimental economics
  • behavioral economics
  • public policy

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