Climate Change Information and Preferences for Migration

Last registered on October 01, 2025
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Climate Change Information and Preferences for Migration
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0016879
Initial registration date
September 26, 2025

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 01, 2025, 7:40 AM EDT

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

Locations

Country
Bangladesh
Region
Barishal

Primary Investigator

Name
Angelika Budjan
Affiliation
University of Stuttgart
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Cristina Cibin
PI Affiliation
Universität Heidelberg
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Khalid Imran
PI Affiliation
HSTU Dinajpur
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Robin Moellerherm
PI Affiliation
Universität Heidelberg
Contact Investigator
PI Name
Jingke Pan
PI Affiliation
Universität Heidelberg
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2025-09-27
End date
2025-10-11
Keywords
Behavior, Environment & Energy, Governance
Additional Keywords
climate risk, adaptation, migration, information treatment
JEL code(s)
Q54, Q58, O15, C93
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This research project explores how information about future climate risks and public adaptation investments affect individuals’ adaptation preferences in one of Bangladesh’s most climate-exposed regions. We propose a field experiment in Barishal using a 2x2 factorial design. The first dimension introduces a climate information treatment. The second dimension varies the information about an on-going aid project in physical adaptation infrastructure (drains, road elevation, etc.). This design allows us to test not only whether climate information changes preferences, but also how knowledge about public investments affects these.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Budjan, Angelika et al. 2025. "Climate Change Information and Preferences for Migration." AEA RCT Registry. October 01. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.16879-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
We implement a 2x2 factorial design:
• Climate Risk Information: Participants receive a short, narrative-based video about projected climate risks in Barishal.
• Aid Project Information: Participants receive a short video about an on-going aid project for climate resilience in Barishal.
Intervention (Hidden)
Intervention Start Date
2025-09-27
Intervention End Date
2025-10-11

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
- Migration intentions
- Public policy preferences

Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
- Perceived local climate risk
- Adoption of local adaptation measures
- Government trust
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
See Design Document.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
- Unit of Randomization: Household.
- Assignment Ratio: 1:1:1:1 across the four groups.
- Procedure: Randomization will be done automatically by surveyCTO software
Randomization Unit
Household
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
2600
Sample size: planned number of observations
2600
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
We have 4 treatment arms à 650 participants:
- G1: no information
- G2: only climate risk information
- G3: only aid project information
- G4: climate risk and aid project information
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
See design document.
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Institutional Review Board der Fakultät für Wirtschafts- und Sozialwissenschaften der Ruprecht-Karls-Universität Heidelberg
IRB Approval Date
2025-09-24
IRB Approval Number
FESS-HD-2025-019
IRB Name
German Association for Experimental Economic Research e.V.
IRB Approval Date
2025-09-17
IRB Approval Number
8qk57s5j
Analysis Plan

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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