Time to untie Odysseus from the Mast? Evidence Review on Commitment Devices (with Taisuke Imai and Anna Popova)

Abstract:

Commitment devices, tools that individuals may use to restrict their future choices in response to limited self-control, offer strong theoretical appeal as mechanisms for promoting behaviour change. Despite this promise, empirical evidence on their demand and effectiveness remains mixed. This paper presents a comprehensive review and meta-analysis of the literature on commitment devices, identifying key demand- and supply-side factors that influence take-up rates. Our analysis reveals substantial heterogeneity in commitment demand across different contexts and designs, with take-up rates varying widely. To better understand this variation, we employ a Bayesian meta-analysis, which we will complement with a survey of social science researchers to benchmark our findings.

Severine Toussaert, Oxford University