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Deadlines and Memory Limitations

  • This paper presents the results of two natural field experiments at a dental clinic. Guided by a simple theoretical model, we exogenously vary deadlines and associated rewards for arranging check-up appointments. Our data show strong and systematic effects of deadlines on patients’ behavior. Imposing deadlines induces patients to act earlier and at a persistently higher frequency than without a deadline. We further document that individuals systematically respond to deadlines, even if these are not tied to explicit rewards. Several of our findings suggest that individuals’ responses to deadlines are shaped by limitations in memory and attention. Our results illustrate that deadlines can be a powerful management tool to encourage timely task completion and to increase the cost effectiveness of performance-contingent rewards.

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Metadaten
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Author(s):Steffen Altmann, Christian Traxler, Philipp Weinschenk
Parent Title (English):Management Science
Publication year:2021
Publishing Institution:Hertie School
First Page:6733
Last Page:6750
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2021.4227
Release Date:2021/12/16
Tag:Deadlines; field experiment; limited attention; memory limitations
Volume:68
Issue:9
Notes:
published online as article in advance on 15.12.2021
AY 21/22:AY 21/22
AY 22/23:AY 22/23
Licence of document (German):Metadaten / metadata
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