How the Level of Implementation Affects Support for Reducing and Extending Working Hours

Last registered on October 07, 2024
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
How the Level of Implementation Affects Support for Reducing and Extending Working Hours
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0014508
Initial registration date
October 03, 2024

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
October 07, 2024, 7:17 PM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

Country
Germany
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Zarah Westrich
Affiliation
University of Duisburg-Essen
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Jan Behringer
PI Affiliation
Macroeconomic Policy Institute
PI Name
Till van Treeck
PI Affiliation
University of Duisburg-Essen

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2024-10-01
End date
2024-10-11
Keywords
Behavior, Labor, Welfare
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
J08, J22, D7, H00
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
The ideas of a 4-day week and tax-free overtime are currently being widely discussed in Germany. We investigate the support for these measures depending on the level at which they are implemented, individually, company-wide or nationwide. A reduction (extension) in working hours means a lower relative income for the individual if working hours are reduced (extended) at an individual level, but not if working hours are reduced collectively. If social comparisons take place more via income/consumption than via leisure time, the approval of a reduction (extension) in working hours could be greater (smaller) if it takes place at a collective level than if it takes place at an individual level.

We conduct a survey experiment employing a between-subjects design with a representative sample of full- and part-time employees in Germany. Participants are randomly assigned to one of six treatment groups. Three groups were asked about support for a reduction in working hours and three groups about support for an increase in overtime hours. In the respective thematic groups, the questions differ in terms of the level at which the policy measure is to be introduced, individually, company-wide or nationwide. Next, we ask all participants to indicate to what extent they support the implementation on a five-point Likert scale.

Our experimental design allows us to identify the causal effects of the level of implementation on support for reducing or increasing working hours and to analyse heterogenous effects between socio-demographic groups and by attitudes.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Behringer, Jan, Till van Treeck and Zarah Westrich. 2024. "How the Level of Implementation Affects Support for Reducing and Extending Working Hours ." AEA RCT Registry. October 07. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.14508-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention (Hidden)
Intervention Start Date
2024-10-01
Intervention End Date
2024-10-11

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Policy support
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
The survey experiment is part of a survey of 5000 full-time and part-time employees between the ages of 18 and 65 in Germany. The sample is representative in terms of age, gender, federal state, full or part-time employment and net household income.

We conduct a survey experiment employing a between-subjects design. Participants are randomly assigned to one of six treatment groups, resulting in 833 participants per group. Three groups were asked about support for a reduction in working hours and three groups about support for an increase in overtime hours.

In the working time reduction scenario, participants are asked to imagine that they would gradually reduce their working hours by 20 percent and temporarily receive a slightly lower salary increase in return. In the working time extension scenario, respondents are asked to imagine that they work more overtime on a regular basis and do not have to pay tax on the additional earnings. For both scenarios, the questions differ in terms of the level at which the policy measure under discussion is to be introduced, individually, company-wide or nationwide. The treatment groups are structured as follows:

1) Working hours reduction: individual level
2) Working hours reduction: company level
3) Working hours reduction: national level
4) Working hours extension: individual level
5) Working hours extension: company level
6) Working hours extension: national level

Next, we ask all participants to indicate to what extent they support the implementation on a five-point Likert scale. Our experimental design allows us to identify the causal effects of the level of implementation on support for reducing or increasing working hours.

As part of the wider survey, questions are asked about employment, working conditions, attitudes, and socio-demographic characteristics. These additional questions allow us to examine differences between socio-demographic groups and by attitudes.
Experimental Design Details
Main Hypotheses:
1) The more collective the level at which the reduction of working hours is implemented, the higher the approval.
2) The more collective the level at which the extension of overtime hours is implemented, the lower the approval.
3) Sensitivity to treatment differs according to characteristics, such as gender, age, income and attitudes towards work, social comparisons, etc.
Randomization Method
Done by survey institute
Randomization Unit
Individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
0
Sample size: planned number of observations
5000
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
833
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Ethics Committee, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Duisburg-Essen
IRB Approval Date
2024-08-26
IRB Approval Number
N/A
Analysis Plan

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials