Experimental Design
The study is a two-wave randomized controlled trial conducted on a nationally representative sample of 1,000 adults residing in Spain. In Wave 1 (baseline), respondents complete a detailed survey covering sociodemographics, economic perceptions, financial literacy, digital behavior, and baseline knowledge and attitudes toward the Digital Euro. Prior to Wave 2, participants are randomly assigned by computer to either the treatment or control group, with stratification by gender, age group, and education.
The unit of randomization is the individual respondent. Participants assigned to the treatment group receive a short, neutral informational text summarizing key features of the Digital Euro based on official ECB and FUNCAS sources: definition, functioning, privacy and security standards, and its role as public digital money. In Wave 2, the treatment group also views a short explanatory video produced by the Banco de España. The control group receives no information and proceeds directly to the outcome module.
Immediately after the intervention, both groups complete the same set of outcome questions measuring (i) knowledge, (ii) trust in the ECB and perceived privacy/security, and (iii) intended adoption of the Digital Euro. Outcomes are constructed into standardized indices and an overall Digital Euro Acceptance Index using the Anderson (2008) method.
The experiment estimates Intent-to-Treat effects using ANCOVA regressions with baseline outcomes and demographic covariates. Heterogeneity analyses will be conducted using interactions with gender, age, education, income, and baseline financial literacy or digital competence. Attrition will be minimized through recontact protocols and small follow-up incentives.