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Default Effects And Follow-On Behaviour: Evidence From An Electricity Pricing Program
[The Impact of Presumed Consent Legislation on Cadaveric Oorgan Donation: A Cross-country Study”]

Author

Listed:
  • Meredith Fowlie
  • Catherine Wolfram
  • Patrick Baylis
  • C Anna Spurlock
  • Annika Todd-Blick
  • Peter Cappers

Abstract

We study default effects in the context of a residential electricity-pricing program. In the large-scale randomized controlled trial we analyse, one treatment group was given the option to opt-in to time-varying pricing while another was defaulted into the program but allowed to opt-out. We provide dramatic evidence of a default effect on program participation, consistent with previous research. A novel feature of our study is that we also observe how the default manipulation impacts customers’ subsequent electricity consumption. Passive consumers who did not opt-out but would not have opted in—comprising more than 70 of the sample—nonetheless reduce consumption in response to higher prices. Observing of this follow-on behaviour enables us to assess competing explanations for the default effect. We draw conclusions about the likely welfare effects of defaulting customers onto time-varying pricing.

Suggested Citation

  • Meredith Fowlie & Catherine Wolfram & Patrick Baylis & C Anna Spurlock & Annika Todd-Blick & Peter Cappers, 2021. "Default Effects And Follow-On Behaviour: Evidence From An Electricity Pricing Program [The Impact of Presumed Consent Legislation on Cadaveric Oorgan Donation: A Cross-country Study”]," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 88(6), pages 2886-2934.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:restud:v:88:y:2021:i:6:p:2886-2934.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/restud/rdab018
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Jacobsen, Grant D. & Stewart, James I., 2022. "How do consumers respond to price complexity? Experimental evidence from the power sector," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 116(C).
    2. Kayo Murakami & Hideki Shimada & Yoshiaki Ushifusa & Takanori Ida, 2022. "Heterogeneous Treatment Effects Of Nudge And Rebate: Causal Machine Learning In A Field Experiment On Electricity Conservation," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 63(4), pages 1779-1803, November.
    3. Ankinée KIRAKOZIAN & Raphaël CHIAPPINI & Nabila ARFAOUI, 2023. "Nudging employees for greener mobility A field experiment," Bordeaux Economics Working Papers 2023-09, Bordeaux School of Economics (BSE).
    4. Nakai, Miwa & von Loessl, Victor & Wetzel, Heike, 2024. "Preferences for dynamic electricity tariffs: A comparison of households in Germany and Japan," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 223(C).
    5. Takanori Ida & Takunori Ishihara & Koichiro Ito & Daido Kido & Toru Kitagawa & Shosei Sakaguchi & Shusaku Sasaki, 2022. "Choosing Who Chooses: Selection-Driven Targeting in Energy Rebate Programs," NBER Working Papers 30469, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    6. Christina Gravert, 2024. "From Intent to Inertia: Experimental Evidence from the Retail Electricity Market," CESifo Working Paper Series 11139, CESifo.
    7. Fabra, Natalia, 2021. "The energy transition: An industrial economics perspective," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    8. Enrich, Jacint & Li, Ruoyi & Mizrahi, Alejandro & Reguant, Mar, 2024. "Measuring the impact of time-of-use pricing on electricity consumption: Evidence from Spain," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    9. Lang, Corey & Qiu, Yueming (Lucy) & Dong, Luran, 2023. "Increasing voluntary enrollment in time-of-use electricity rates: Findings from a survey experiment," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    10. Shimada, Hideki & Honda, Tomonori, 2022. "What drives households’ choices of residential solar photovoltaic capacity?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    11. Takanori Ida & Takunori Ishihara & Koichiro Ito & Daido Kido & Toru Kitagawa & Shosei Sakaguchi & Shusaku Sasaki, 2021. "Paternalism, Autonomy, or Both? Experimental Evidence from Energy Saving Programs," Papers 2112.09850, arXiv.org.
    12. Harding, Matthew & Kettler, Kyle & Lamarche, Carlos & Ma, Lala, 2023. "The (alleged) environmental and social benefits of dynamic pricing," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 205(C), pages 574-593.
    13. Cappers, Peter A. & Todd-Blick, Annika, 2021. "Heterogeneity in own-price residential customer demand elasticities for electricity under time-of-use rates: Evidence from a randomized-control trial in the United States," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    14. Katharina Momsen & Sebastian O. Schneider, 2022. "Motivated Reasoning, Information Avoidance, and Default Bias," Working Papers 2022-05, Faculty of Economics and Statistics, Universität Innsbruck.
    15. Lynn Conell‐Price & Carolyn Kousky & Howard Kunreuther, 2022. "Encouraging resiliency through autoenrollment in supplemental flood insurance coverage," Journal of Risk & Insurance, The American Risk and Insurance Association, vol. 89(4), pages 1109-1137, December.
    16. Joshua Blonz & Karen Palmer & Casey J. Wichman & Derek C. Wietelman, 2025. "Smart Thermostats, Automation, and Time-Varying Prices," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 17(1), pages 90-125, January.
    17. Aldy, Joseph E., 2022. "Learning How to Build Back Better through Clean Energy Policy Evaluation," RFF Working Paper Series 22-15, Resources for the Future.
    18. Ehrhart, Karl-Martin & Eicke, Anselm & Hirth, Lion & Ocker, Fabian & Ott, Marion & Schlecht, Ingmar & Wang, Runxi, 2024. "Analysis of a capacity-based redispatch mechanism," ZEW Discussion Papers 24-025, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    19. Hirofumi Kurokawa & Shusaku Sasaki, 2023. "How Does Opt-in Work? A Field Experiment on Financial Incentives for Physical Activity," Discussion Papers in Economics and Business 23-01, Osaka University, Graduate School of Economics.
    20. Elise Viadere, 2024. "Promoting Energy-sharing Communities: why and how? Lessons from a Belgian Pilot Project," Working Papers ECARES 2024-22, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    21. Pébereau, Charles & Remmy, Kevin, 2023. "Barriers to real-time electricity pricing: Evidence from New Zealand," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).
    22. Joshua Blonz & Karen Palmer & Casey J. Wichman & Derek C. Wietelman, 2025. "Smart Thermostats, Automation, and Time-Varying Prices," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 17(1), pages 90-125, January.

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