Back to History Current Version

Happiness and Economic Expectation

Last registered on January 22, 2026
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Happiness and Economic Expectation
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0017739
Initial registration date
January 21, 2026

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
January 22, 2026, 2:05 PM EST

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

Locations

Country
China
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Haiyan Zhang
Affiliation
Renmin University of China
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2026-01-22
End date
2026-01-29
Keywords
Behavior, Gender, Labor
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
This study uses a randomized controlled laboratory experiment to examine the causal effect of happiness on individuals’ economic expectations. Participants are randomly assigned to either a happiness-priming treatment group or a neutral control group. The happiness prime is implemented through a standardized psychological priming task designed to temporarily induce a positive affective state, while the control group completes a comparable neutral task without emotional content. Following the priming intervention, all participants are asked to report their expectations about future economic outcomes, including personal and macroeconomic conditions. Randomization ensures that, in expectation, treated and control participants are comparable along observable and unobservable characteristics. The primary comparison of interest is the difference in economic expectations between the happiness-primed group and the control group.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Zhang, Haiyan. 2026. "Happiness and Economic Expectation." AEA RCT Registry. January 22. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.17739-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention (Hidden)
Intervention Start Date
2026-01-23
Intervention End Date
2026-01-25

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Economic expactation
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
This study uses a randomized controlled laboratory experiment to examine the causal effect of happiness on individuals’ economic expectations. Participants are randomly assigned to either a happiness-priming treatment group or a neutral control group. The happiness prime is implemented through a standardized psychological priming task designed to temporarily induce a positive affective state, while the control group completes a comparable neutral task without emotional content.

Following the priming intervention, all participants are asked to report their expectations about future economic outcomes, including personal and macroeconomic conditions. Randomization ensures that, in expectation, treated and control participants are comparable along observable and unobservable characteristics. The primary comparison of interest is the difference in economic expectations between the happiness-primed group and the control group.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
randomization done in office by a computer,
Randomization Unit
individual
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
1
Sample size: planned number of observations
800
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
400 v.s. 400
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Renmin University of China
IRB Approval Date
2026-01-08
IRB Approval Number
2026-01
Analysis Plan

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

There is information in this trial unavailable to the public. Use the button below to request access.

Request Information

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