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To double, quadruple, or keep? Semi-automated service increases micro-investments

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  • Riitsalu, Leonore
  • Uusberg, Andero

Abstract

Automated financial services remedy present biased financial behaviour by nudging users towards investing. Although these services increase investments, they deprive users of the experience of making prudent decisions that would satisfy their need for autonomy. Assuming that freedom of choice facilitates autonomy, we hypothesized that the addition of an element of choice to an automated micro-investment service would increase the amounts invested. To test this idea, we randomised 825 volunteer users of a micro-investments service at an Estonian bank to receive different versions of weekly emails offering a choice to double, quadruple, or keep the money they had accrued for investment through the service. We found that the treatment increased the average investment per participant by 20 to 36%. The effectiveness of the treatments was independent of a number of financial, socio-economic, or personality characteristics other than income. We conclude that the addition of elements of choice to automated investment services has a significant potential to increase investments and improve financial well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Riitsalu, Leonore & Uusberg, Andero, 2021. "To double, quadruple, or keep? Semi-automated service increases micro-investments," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:95:y:2021:i:c:s2214804321001142
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2021.101774
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