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Field
Abstract
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Before
This experiment investigates how to encourage commuters to drive in peak-avodience hours. We organize a field experiment to explore the effectiveness of differenet treatments: tradable permits, reward, health information.
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After
Traffic congestion is a difficult problem faced by urban management all over the world. This experiment investigates how to encourage commuters to drive cars in non-peak hours. We organize a randomized field experiment to explore the effectiveness of different treatments: tradable permits, congestion charges, and health information. We define the time window of 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. as the big peak hours. and before 6:30 a.m. or after 8:30 a.m. as the small peak hours. Under the tradable permits, drivers' app accounts will be deducted for some tickets if they depart during peak hours. Under congestion charges, drivers' app accounts will be deducted some money if they depart during peak hours. The drivers in health information group will receive reminder messages every week. In the last group, drivers will be influenced by health information and congestion charges.
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Field
Trial Start Date
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November 02, 2020
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After
March 31, 2021
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Field
Trial End Date
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February 28, 2021
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After
October 17, 2021
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Field
JEL Code(s)
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Before
Public economics, Transportation economics
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After
C93, D12, H23, L9, R41
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Field
Last Published
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July 13, 2021 09:35 AM
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After
November 15, 2022 04:50 PM
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Field
Intervention (Public)
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Before
Reward, tradable perimits, health information
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After
Tradable permits: Drivers need to pay some permit tickets for morning driving during peak hours.
Congestion charges: Drivers need to pay some money from initially allocated money for morning driving during peak hours.
Health information: Drivers receive health information every week to tell how improper commuting modes affect individual health.
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Field
Intervention Start Date
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Before
December 21, 2020
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After
June 14, 2021
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Field
Intervention End Date
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Before
January 31, 2021
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After
July 16, 2021
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Field
Primary Outcomes (End Points)
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Before
Whether subjects depart in peak hours.
Whether subjects depart during 6:45-7:45 a.m.
Whether subjects depart during 7:00-7:30 a.m.
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After
Whether subjects drive.
Whether subjects depart before 6:30 a.m..
Whether subjects depart between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m..
Whether subjects depart between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m..
Whether subjects depart between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m..
Whether subjects depart after 8:30 a.m..
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Field
Primary Outcomes (Explanation)
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Before
We consturct some dependent varibales (Dummies). If subjects depart in peak hous (6:45-7:45 a.m., or 7:00-7:30 a.m.), the variables equals 1, else 0.
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After
The driver i will experience Ti days (=0,1,…) in the experimental period. Each day t the driver will decide when to drive or not drive in the morning. Generate six main observed variables: whether to drive (Xit=1 or 0), whether to start driving before 6:30 a,m. (Xit=1 or 0), whether to start driving between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m., (Xit=1 or 0), whether to start driving between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 a.m., (Xit=1 or 0), whether to start driving during 8:00 a.m. and 8:030 a.m., (Xit=1 or 0), and whether to start driving after 8:30 a.m., (Xit=1 or 0). Per driver with Ti >0 , we compute the average value (x_i ) ̅= 1/T_i ∑_(t=1)^(T_i)▒x_it.
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Field
Experimental Design (Public)
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Before
Congestion on urban roads in megacities is increasing as the demand for trips increases and the supply of road infrastructure remains limited. Congestion is a collective, synchronic phenomenon: massive commuting at a more or less common time frame (e.g. the morning rush hour). Thus, shifting commuters’ departure times to less congested times (before or after the rush hour), in theory, lead to considerable time savings, greater travel certainty, and lower external costs of congestion.
To balance the commuting demand and road capacity and reduce congestion, this experiment focuses on using internet-based measures to nudge travelers to avoid rush hour.
Three incentives will be considered and compared:
(1) Reward system: Participants will receive a certain amount of monetary reward if they depart to avoid the peak.
(2) Tradable permits system: Participants need to use permits when departing during the peak. Before the experiment, each participant will receive a certain amount of initial permits and initial monetary budgets. They can trade the permits in an online permit market.
(3) Nudge information: Participants will receive nudge information once a week to tell them the disadvantage of peak travel.
Sample:
We will cooperate with an App company in China. Its users are car drivers from different districts of Beijing. Each user has downloaded the APP and equipped an OBD box on their cars, which can record their GPS data. The recruitment and incentives will be conducted based on the APP.
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After
During the treatment period, drivers will be incentivized by tradable permits, congestion charges, or health information
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Field
Randomization Method
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Before
Stratified randomization by a computer
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After
Stratified randomization by Excel
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Field
Additional Keyword(s)
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Before
Transportation, Tradble permits, Congestion
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After
Traffic congestion, Tradble permits, Congestion Pricing, Health information
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Field
Intervention (Hidden)
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Before
Reward: Subjects will receive 400 yuan (100¥ per week) in their budget before the incentive month. (The money couldn’t be withdrawn until the end of the experiment)
- 6:45-7:00 a.m., 10 yuan
- 7:00-7:30 a.m., 20 yuan
- 7:30-7:45 a.m., 10 yuan
- Other time, no charge
Tradable permits: In the beginning, subjects will receive some permits for free. The initial permit price is 10 yuan. From Mon. to Fri., if subjects depart in the morning peak, they need to use permits. After the treatment, remaining licenses can be exchanged for cash at e-market prices
- 6:45-7:00 a.m., 1 permit
- 7:00-7:30 a.m., 2 permits
- 7:30-7:45 a.m., 1 permit
- Other time, no charge
Health information: Subjects will receive information every week that tell them how long-driving hurts their health
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After
Tradable permits: Subjects receive four driving permit tickets every week. We only consider the first-morning trip each day. For weekdays, if one driver departs in the small peak hours (between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. or between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.), her account will be deducted by one ticket. If she departs during the big peak hours (between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m.), two tickets are deducted. The permits can be automatically calculated and deducted based on individuals’ travel records. Drivers can trade permits in the phone APP whenever and wherever they like. The remaining tickets can be exchanged for money according to the market price
Congestion charges: Each driver's app account is automatically increased by an extra CNY 320 before treatment. On the weekdays, if she starts driving the big-peak hours, her app account will be automatically deducted by CNY 20. If she departs in the small-peak hours, her account will be reduced by CNY 10. When the treatments end, subjects will get payments based on the records of app accounts.
Health information: The research assistants send health information to subjects each Sunday. It describes the knowledge about the influence of traveling habits on physical and mental health. Subjects receive intervention information for four times during the experiment.
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Field
Building on Existing Work
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No
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