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Low-cost approaches to increasing gym attendance

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  • Beatty, Timothy K.M.
  • Katare, Bhagyashree

Abstract

We investigate the effect of two low-cost experimental interventions designed to increase physical exercise: a lottery based financial incentive and a social norming treatment. The lottery intervention provides a financial incentive to increase physical activity whereas the social norming intervention attempts to increase physical activity by providing feedback to individuals on their own and their peers’ physical exercise activity. We find the larger of our two lottery treatments yields a positive and statistically significant effect on physical activity at modest cost, whereas our social norming treatment has no detectable effect.

Suggested Citation

  • Beatty, Timothy K.M. & Katare, Bhagyashree, 2018. "Low-cost approaches to increasing gym attendance," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 63-76.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jhecon:v:61:y:2018:i:c:p:63-76
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jhealeco.2018.05.006
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Wolfgang Habla & Paul Muller, 2021. "Experimental evidence of limited attention at the gym," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 24(4), pages 1156-1184, December.
    2. Katare, Bhagyashree, 2021. "Do low-cost economic incentives motivate healthy behavior?," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).
    3. Valdez Gonzalez, Natalia I. & Kee, Jennifer Y. & Palma, Marco A. & Pruitt, J. Ross, 2024. "The relationship between monetary incentives, social status, and physical activity," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 108(C).

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