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The E-word – On the public acceptance of experiments

Author

Listed:
  • Fischer, Mira
  • Grewenig, Elisabeth
  • Lergetporer, Philipp
  • Werner, Katharina
  • Zeidler, Helen

Abstract

Randomized experiments are often viewed as the “gold standard” of scientific evidence, but people's skepticism towards experiments has compromised their viability in the past. We study preferences for experimental policy evaluations in a representative survey in Germany (N > 1,900). We find that a majority of 75 % supports the idea of small-scale evaluations of policies before enacting them at a large scale. Experimentally varying whether the evaluations are explicitly described as “experiments” has a precisely estimated overall zero effect on public support. Our results indicate political leeway for experimental policy evaluation, a practice that is still uncommon in Germany.

Suggested Citation

  • Fischer, Mira & Grewenig, Elisabeth & Lergetporer, Philipp & Werner, Katharina & Zeidler, Helen, 2024. "The E-word – On the public acceptance of experiments," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 235(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:235:y:2024:i:c:s0165176524000429
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2024.111558
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Blesse, Sebastian & Lergetporer, Philipp & Nover, Justus & Werner, Katharina, 2023. "Transparency and policy competition: Experimental evidence from German citizens and politicians," ZEW Discussion Papers 23-007, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    2. Regina T. Riphahn & Ludger Wößmann, 2016. "Mehr Transparenz in der Bildungspolitik [More Transparency in Education Policy]," Wirtschaftsdienst, Springer;ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 96(7), pages 474-478, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Robert Dur & Arjan Non & Paul Prottung & Benedetta Ricci, 2023. "Who’s Afraid of Policy Experiments?," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 23-027/V, Tinbergen Institute.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Experiment aversion; Policy experimentation; Education;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I28 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Government Policy
    • H40 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - General
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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