Remittance Discounts and Reminders

Last registered on August 20, 2019

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Remittance Discounts and Reminders
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0004424
Initial registration date
July 09, 2019

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
July 10, 2019, 1:30 PM EDT

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

Last updated
August 20, 2019, 10:06 AM EDT

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

Region
Region

Primary Investigator

Affiliation
International Food Policy Research Institute

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Affiliation
Sapienza University of Rome
PI Affiliation
University of Maryland
PI Affiliation
University of Michigan

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2019-03-01
End date
2020-12-31
Secondary IDs
Abstract
This study examines the separate and joint impacts of discounts on remittance prices and reminders to send remittances on the remittance behavior of Filipino migrants in the UAE. We develop a model that makes predictions regarding transaction frequency, amount per transaction, and total amount remitted in the presence of limited attention. The experimental study is designed to test these predictions.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Ambler, Kate et al. 2019. "Remittance Discounts and Reminders." AEA RCT Registry. August 20. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.4424-3.0
Former Citation
Ambler, Kate et al. 2019. "Remittance Discounts and Reminders." AEA RCT Registry. August 20. https://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/4424/history/52019
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
This study examines the impact of providing discounts on remittance fees and reminders to send remittances on the remittance behavior of Filipino migrants in the UAE. The discounts are provided through the use of points earned for recording remittances in an app that can then be used to redeem gift cards. Reminders are similarly implemented through the app, specifically in the form of weekly surveys regarding remittances that should make plans to send remittances salient to migrants. These interventions were designed to test the attached theory of remittance sending in the presence of limited attention.
Intervention Start Date
2019-05-05
Intervention End Date
2020-03-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Number of transactions in intervention period, mean transaction amount in intervention period, total amount remitted in intervention period
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
These outcomes will be constructed using data from the remittance app. We will also conduct parallel analysis using administrative data from the remittance company.

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
Participants are invited to track their remittances (for 30 weeks) via a specially designed app, for which they are rewarded 10 points for every remittance they record, and provides a discount on their remittance fee. Participants also receive a weekly survey asking them about the remittances they sent, which also serves as a reminder to send remittances. For eight weeks beginning in week 11, 12, 13, or 14, participants are assigned on one of four groups:
1. Control - 10 point discount and no weekly survey
2. Discount only: 40 point discount and no weekly survey
3. Reminder only: 10 point discount and weekly survey
4. Discount and reminder: 40 point discount and weekly survey
Experimental Design Details
See experimental design details in attached pre-analysis plan.
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
2,000 migrants
Sample size: planned number of observations
2,000 migrants
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
500 control, 500 discount only, 500 reminder only, 500 discount and reminder
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Human Subjects Committee for Innovations for Poverty Action IRB-USA
IRB Approval Date
2017-10-06
IRB Approval Number
14443
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