Types Of Incentives Research Articles

Does participation in municipality-initiated incentivized health promotion programs promote physical activity among the physically inactive? Verification in six Japanese municipalities.

Physical activity can prevent lifestyle-related diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes. However, many people in society are physically inactive, especially middle-aged and older adults over 40. Therefore, this study examined the effects of a municipality-led incentivized health promotion program to clarify: (1) whether the average number of steps increased from the preparticipation period to the 18th month following the program; and (2) whether such increases were influenced by financial incentives. This study analyzed gender, age, step, and incentive type data from 5688 middle-aged and elderly participants in an incentivized health promotion program. The incentives were regional gift certificates that could only be used in local areas, national gift certificates, common points that could be used in department and convenience stores nationwide, and donations. The incentives were worth a maximum of 24,000 yen per year. Both the physically active group and the physically inactive group had increased the step count markedly 18 months post-participation; however those participants chosing financial incentives showed significantly higher steps after 18 months than those who opted for non-financial incentives (time: p < 0.05, time × group: p < 0.05). Municipality-led financially incentivized health promotion programs could motivate increases in the average number of steps taken by those physically inactive residents.

Free public transit and voter turnout

Transportation costs are an under-studied barrier to political participation. In many elections worldwide, subsidies to voter transportation are already provided or are under discussion. However, these types of incentives have not been rigorously evaluated. Here we examine possibly the world's largest-ever intervention to lower these costs, the adoption of a fare-free public transit policy in Brazil during the 2022 national election, when about half of Brazilian voters were granted the right to use public transit for free on election days. However, while some cities adopted the benefit for both rounds of the election, others adopted it only for the second round. Using an event study design, we exploit this difference in adoption timing to examine the policy's causal impact on voter turnout rates and human mobility levels. We find that fare-free transit increased ridership between 7.2% and 17.5% on election days, however, we estimate a precise and robust null effect of the policy on voter turnout (Coef. −0.03p.p. with standard error of 0.22p.p.). Our results illustrate that monetary transport costs may not always be a critical factor behind non-participation. Although reducing transportation costs improves access to polling places, we show that even a full transit subsidy may not be sufficient to increase voter turnout.

A study of satisfaction with research capacity development of Master of Public Health and its influencing factors.

To understand the satisfaction and the current status of the training of scientific research ability of Master of Public Health students in universities, analyze the influencing factors and explore their solutions, in order to provide reference for improving the scientific research ability of Master of Public Health students. A questionnaire was used to survey Master of Public Health students in nine universities. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and multifactor logistic regression. The overall satisfaction self-rating score for research capacity of Master of Public Health students was (3.29 ± 0.87), with the highest score for mentor exchange (3.78 ± 0.81) and the lowest score for subsidized treatment (1.86 ± 0.96). Satisfaction with the practice unit and school dimensions was significantly lower than the mentor dimension. The length of practice in the practice unit, subsidy treatment, importance of research capacity development, development tendency, and current status of research were influential factors contributing to the difference in satisfaction with research capacity development of Master of Public Health students (P < 0.05). The overall scientific training quality of Master of Public Health students is high, but there are still many aspects that need to be solved. Colleges and universities should join the funding system adapted to the practice process of Master of Public Health students and guarantee the construction of the system of student subsidy treatment. Secondly, they should strengthen the construction of public health supervisory team and improve the frequency and quality of scientific research exchanges between teachers and students. In addition, colleges and universities should improve the existing research incentives and policies, and adopt multiple forms and types of research incentives. Finally, colleges and universities should improve the research training system and the construction of research resources for Master of Public Health.

The impact of executive compensation incentive on corporate innovation capability: Evidence from agro-based companies in China.

This paper aims to examine the impact of executive compensation incentive on corporate innovation capability by dividing executive compensation incentive into short-term monetary incentive and long-term equity incentive. We also investigate the interaction between the two types of executive compensation incentive. Data are collected from China's agro-based companies during 2012-2019, and multiple regression analysis is utilized. The empirical results show that short-term monetary incentive has no impact on innovation capability, while long-term equity incentive stimulates innovation capability. Regarding company ownership, the impact of long-term equity incentive in state-owned enterprises is greater than that in private-owned enterprises. In addition, the complementary effect between short-term and long-term compensation incentive has a positive impact on innovation capability regardless of company ownership. The findings of this paper could help agribusiness managers to design the reasonable incentive system to incentivize corporate executives and enhance the capability of independent innovation.

Less stick more carrot? Increasing the uptake of deposit contract financial incentives for physical activity: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundFinancial incentives are a promising tool to help people increase their physical activity, but they are expensive to provide. Deposit contracts are a type of financial incentive in which participants pledge their own money. However, low uptake is a crucial obstacle to the large-scale implementation of deposit contracts. Therefore, we investigated whether (1) matching the deposit 1:1 (doubling what is deposited) and (2) allowing for customizable deposit amounts increased the uptake and short term effectiveness of a deposit contract for physical activity. MethodsIn this randomized controlled trial, 137 healthy students (age M = 21.6 years) downloaded a smartphone app that provided them with a tailored step goal and then randomized them to one of four experimental conditions. The deposit contract required either a €10 fixed deposit or a customizable deposit with any amount between €1 and €20 upfront. Furthermore, the deposit was either not matched or 1:1 matched (doubled) with a reward provided by the experiment. During 20 intervention days, daily feedback on goal progress and incentive earnings was provided by the app. We investigated effects on the uptake (measured as agreeing to participate and paying the deposit) and effectiveness of behavioral adoption (measured as participant days goal achieved). FindingsOverall, the uptake of deposit contracts was 83.2%, and participants (n = 113) achieved 14.9 out of 20 daily step goals. A binary logistic regression showed that uptake odds were 4.08 times higher when a deposit was matched (p = .010) compared to when it was not matched. Furthermore, uptake odds were 3.53 times higher when a deposit was customizable (p = .022) compared to when it was fixed. Two-way ANCOVA showed that matching (p = .752) and customization (p = .143) did not impact intervention effectiveness. However, we did find a marginally significant interaction effect of deposit matching X deposit customization (p = .063, ηp2 = 0.032). Customization decreased effectiveness when deposits were not matched (p = .033, ηp2 = 0.089), but had no effect when deposits were matched (p = .776, ηp2 = 0.001). ConclusionsWe provide the first experimental evidence that both matching and customization increase the uptake of a deposit contract for physical activity. We recommend considering both matching and customization to overcome lack of uptake, with a preference for customization since matching a deposit imposes significant additional costs. However, since we found indications that customizable deposits might reduce effectiveness (when the deposits are not matched), we urge for more research on the effectiveness of customizable deposit contracts. Finally, future research should investigate which participant characteristics are predictive of deposit contract uptake and effectiveness. Pre-registrationOSF Registries, https://osf.io/cgq48.

Comparative Evaluation of Total Cost of Ownership of Battery-Electric and Diesel Trucks in India

Whereas battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are on their path to maturity in the light-duty segment, their viability in medium- and heavy-duty applications faces greater skepticism. Furthermore, their higher upfront cost relative to diesel trucks is perceived as even more challenging for less wealthy nations such as India. Here, we undertake a total cost of ownership (TCO) assessment of battery electric trucks (BETs) for four different classes of freight trucks in India using a bottom-up vehicle subsystem level cost estimation. We estimate that, in a scenario in which the incremental upfront cost of BETs relative to a diesel truck is simply the extra cost of the battery pack procured at close to current average international battery pack prices, BETs could have lower TCO, less than 5-year payback, and deliver substantial life cycle cost savings, even without accounting for their environmental benefits. In addition to eliminating tailpipe pollution, they already deliver lower life cycle greenhouse gas emissions based on the current average electricity mix in India. Achieving a scale production that yields lower TCO will, however, require public support over a long maturation phase marked by learning-by-doing externalities and lack of economies of scale when BETs will be costlier. Currently, while there exist multiple types of incentive for light-duty BEVs as well as for cell manufacturing in India, targeted policies for zero emissions trucks are absent; this is a gap that needs to be filled if BETs are to emerge as a serious alternative to diesel trucks in a decade or so.

An exploratory analysis of incentive packages and managerial performance

AbstractThis study explores the interplay among different types of incentives (monetary incentives, non-monetary incentives, and benefits) and managerial performance. We collect data via a questionnaire and use qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) to analyze them. Using data from 614 managers, we identify multiple incentive packages that are consistently related to high managerial performance. Specifically, our analyses reveal that non-monetary incentives in the form of autonomy and development opportunities are as related to high performance in isolation as their combination with recognition. High performance can also be achieved with the combination of traditional tangible benefits with (1) social support benefits and recognition or with (2) monetary incentives. Finally, our findings suggest that monetary incentives, social benefits, and autonomy and development opportunities are more important for the success of CFOs than to non-CFOs. Conversely, tangible benefits are particularly relevant for the high performance of non-CFOs but not for CFOs. Our findings contribute to the incentives literature by showing successful incentive packages that companies are using in practice and how they relate to different theories such as agency theory, self-determination theory, and human capital theory.

Overcoming Head Contractor Barriers to Sustainable Waste Management Solutions in the Australian Construction Industry

The construction industry has one of the highest waste intensities in Australia. While there are barriers to the implementation of sustainable waste management (WM) practices, there is a lack of viable solutions for head contractors to overcome these barriers. This research investigates the role of incentives in achieving sustainable WM in the Australian commercial construction industry. A qualitative approach was adopted through interviews with experts in the field to explore the role of incentives as possible solutions to the barriers presented. The findings show that participants are willing to use more sustainable WM practices. However, the barriers are perceived to be too substantial. Many types of incentives can encourage changes in behavior, which contribute to better waste outcomes. The findings also indicate key stakeholders such as the client, government, and industry regulators may provide incentives, including enhancing relevant key performance indicators, amending existing legislations, and implementing government programs to foster a Circular Economy to improve sustainable WM practices. This study contributes to the field by raising awareness about the role of incentives for head contractors to achieve sustainable WM practices.

When Cash is Not King: An Examination of the Relative Effectiveness of Tangible versus Cash Rewards on Whistleblower Reporting Behavior

SYNOPSISWe investigate the effects of incentive type (i.e., cash versus. tangible) in motivating whistleblower behavior. While prior research indicates that cash rewards are an effective means for motivating whistleblower reporting, research has yet to examine the relative effectiveness of tangible incentives (e.g., gift cards, incentive travel, and merchandise) in promoting these prosocial behaviors. Motivated by mental accounting theory, our study experimentally tests and finds that the type of reward offered (cash versus. tangible) interacts with reward size to predict whistleblower reporting behavior. Specifically, whistleblower reporting was less (more) sensitive to changes in reward size when small tangible (cash) rewards were offered. These findings suggest that tangible (i.e., noncash) rewards can increase both the efficiency and effectiveness of whistleblower incentive programs and should be of considerable interest to managers, corporate boards, audit committees, and those charged with corporate governance.

Role of Incentives in the Use of Blockchain-Based Platforms for Sharing Sensitive Health Data: Experimental Study.

Blockchain is an emerging technology that enables secure and decentralized approaches to reduce technical risks and governance challenges associated with sharing data. Although blockchain-based solutions have been suggested for sharing health information, it is still unclear whether a suitable incentive mechanism (intrinsic or extrinsic) can be identified to encourage individuals to share their sensitive data for research purposes. This study aimed to investigate how important extrinsic incentives are and what type of incentive is the best option in blockchain-based platforms designed for sharing sensitive health information. In this study, we conducted 3 experiments with 493 individuals to investigate the role of extrinsic incentives (ie, cryptocurrency, money, and recognition) in data sharing with research organizations. The findings highlight that offering different incentives is insufficient to encourage individuals to use blockchain technology or to change their perceptions about the technology's premise for sharing sensitive health data. The results demonstrate that individuals still attribute serious risks to blockchain-based platforms. Privacy and security concerns, trust issues, lack of knowledge about the technology, lack of public acceptance, and lack of regulations are reported as top risks. In terms of attracting people to use blockchain-based platforms for data sharing in health care, we show that the effects of extrinsic motivations (cryptoincentives, money, and status) are significantly overshadowed by inhibitors to technology use. We suggest that before emphasizing the use of various types of extrinsic incentives, the users must be educated about the capabilities and benefits offered by this technology. Thus, an essential first step for shifting from an institution-based data exchange to a patient-centric data exchange (using blockchain) is addressing technology inhibitors to promote patient-driven data access control. This study shows that extrinsic incentives alone are inadequate to change users' perceptions, increase their trust, or encourage them to use technology for sharing health data.

Does incentivization promote sharing “true” content online?

In an online experiment in India, incentives for sharing factual posts increased sharing compared to no incentivization. However, the type of incentive (monetary or social) did not influence sharing behavior in a custom social media simulation. Curbing misinformation may not require substantial monetary resources; in fact, social media platforms can devise ways to socially incentivize their users for being responsible netizens who share true information. Results of the study point to the need for further analysis through real-world experiments on how effective social incentivization systems can be put in place.

Incentives to Encourage the Adoption of Connected and Automated Vehicles: Lessons Learned from Hybrid-Electric Vehicle Incentive Programs

Connected and Automated Vehicles (CAVs) offer the potential to improve roadway capacity and safety. Thus, improving road infrastructure condition could be prioritized to eliminate further degradation of the transportation infrastructure. In order to foster the adoption of CAVs, incentives can be used; but there is a need to identify what type of incentive would be most effective. To identify effective incentive types, this study uses electric vehicles (EV) and hybrid vehicles as a surrogate to CAVs because of the similarities in obstacles faced for wider adoption. This study then provides some recommendations by examining incentives offered in 15 different countries and by reviewing the literature on the effectiveness of incentive types.

The effect of economic incentives on corporate environmental investment: Evidence from Chinese manufacturing listed firms

Different from most studies that analyze command-and-control policies, our paper quantitatively evaluates the effectiveness of one type of economic incentive – environmental subsidies for stimulating corporate environmental investment. Using a representative sample of Chinese manufacturing listed firms, we find that environmental subsidies provided by the government significantly increase corporate environmental investment. The effect of environmental subsidies is also higher for smaller firms and private firms. Moreover, we also find that environmental subsidies have a significant and positive effect on both cleaner production and end-of-pipe investment, with the effect on cleaner production being greater. Further exploration reveals that government subsidies are a signal of endorsement that contributes to increments in firms’ innovation and financial capacity, which encourages an increase in corporate environmental investment.

The Effect of Incentives on Facilitating User Engagement with Succulent Retailers’ Social Media Pages

Social media are an important approach for florists to reach consumers, and many florists have set incentives to encourage users to engage with their social media pages. However, various subjects can serve as rewards, but what is more effective for encouraging users to engage with the florists’ social media pages remains unknown. This study is intended to address this deficiency. The objectives of this study are as follows: (1) to explore the typology of the incentives used by succulent retailers to promote user engagement; (2) to compare the difference across various types of incentives in regard to the effect on promoting user engagement with succulent retailers’ social media pages. Data were gained from the succulent retailers’ empirical practices on their Facebook brand pages. As a result, 2602 Facebook posts were downloaded and analyzed via content analysis to explore the typology of the incentives applied by succulent retailers. The number of clicks on likes, comments, shares, and emojis by users was recorded as the index of user engagement with the post. The effect of various incentives on user engagement with the succulent retailers’ FB pages was analyzed via the statistical approach of MANOVA. The study results showed that the incentives applied by succulent retailers can be classified into three categories: economic incentives; social incentives; mixed incentives, which contain both economic and social values. The economic incentives included discounts, gifts, sweepstakes, and bidding, while social incentives included gratitude to customers, leaving a question mark, and inviting users to respond. The statistical results revealed that economic incentives are more likely to encourage users’ emotional engagement, while social incentives in the form of inviting users to react are more significant for encouraging users’ behavioral engagement in terms of leaving comments on posts.

Effects of incentive policies on the purchase intention of electric vehicles in China: Psychosocial value and family ownership

The effect of various policies on electric vehicle (EV) adoption has garnered increasing interest. However, most existing studies primarily focus on the direct effects, neglecting an in-depth exploration of the underlying mechanisms and their magnitudes. Drawing upon the perspective of social psychology regarding material possessions, this study examines the mediating role of psychosocial value, an individual’s mental mechanism, between three types of incentive policies (financial incentives, information provision, and convenience policies) and consumers’ intentions to purchase EVs. Additionally, we analyse the moderating effect of family EV ownership on the relationship between incentive policies and psychosocial value. Based on a survey of 402 respondents in China, our findings indicate that all three types of incentive policies positively influence consumers’ intention to purchase EVs. Moreover, psychosocial value mediates the relationship between incentive policies and purchase intention. Among the three types of incentives, the financial incentive policy holds the least importance in enhancing psychosocial value and purchase intention, while the convenience policy is deemed the most influential. Furthermore, the relationship between incentive policies and psychosocial value is stronger for families without EV ownership. Finally, we provide implications and suggestions for future research.

Feeling warm or skeptical? An investigation into the effects of incentivized eWOM programs on customers’ eWOM sharing intentions

Marketing managers frequently provide incentives to customers to encourage electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) sharing. Yet, the literature remains unclear as to which forms of incentives are more effective than others. We conduct three experimental studies to investigate the effect of incentive type (economic vs. altruistic) on customers’ eWOM sharing intentions. Drawing on social judgment theory and attribution theory, in Study 1, we show that altruistic incentives generate higher eWOM sharing intention than economic incentives. We also reveal the mediating roles of customers’ perceptions of warmth and skepticism toward the company in the incentive type–eWOM sharing intention relationship. Studies 2 and 3 aim to identify the target customers of incentivized eWOM programs. In Study 2, we find that altruistic incentives are better provided to customers who are alone, as opposed to those with fellow customers. In Study 3, we find an interesting reverse effect of incentive type: altruistic incentives are less effective than economic incentives in producing eWOM sharing intention if customers have a weak tie with the company.

Innovative development of the regions in the context of specific taxation of energy industries

The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of tax expenditures carried by the state in form of tax incentives for the fuel and energy sector on stimulating the innovative development of the oil-producing regions of the Russian Federation. This study applied the cluster analysis using Ward method to the 32 oil producing regions of Russia with regards to 7 innovation indicators and 5 indicators representing types of tax incentives. The study of the impact of tax incentives on mineral extraction tax for the companies which at the same time represent state tax expenditures is important in the context of innovative development of the oil-producing regions of Russia. Mineral extraction tax incentives are determined by the degree of depletion of oilfield, the complexity of extraction and other production and regional factors. Providing such incentives can encourage companies interested in increasing production to conduct research and development studies and introduce innovations in the field development process. Based on the results of clustering of oil producing regions, two groups with high and low innovation potential were identified in terms of the impact of tax expenditures on their innovative development. Each group included two clusters with high and medium tax expenditures and medium and low tax expenditures, respectively. Results proved that, on average, regions with high state tax expenditures have higher values of innovation indicators. However, consideration of a wide range of innovative indicators revealed the unevenness of innovative development, when even leading regions can lag behind in certain indicators.

Incentivisation practices and their influence on physicians' prescriptions: A qualitative analysis of practice and policy in Pakistan.

Focus on profit-generating enterprise in healthcare can create conflicts of interest that adversely impact prescribing and pricing of medicines. Although a global challenge, addressing the impacts on quality of care is particularly difficult in countries where the pharmaceutical industry and physician lobby is strong relative to regulatory institutions. Our study characterises the range of incentives exchanged between the pharmaceutical industry and physicians, and investigates the differences between incentivisation practices and policies in Pakistan. In this mixed methods study, we first thematically analysed semi-structured interviews with 28 purposively selected for-profit primary-care physicians and 13 medical sales representatives from pharmaceutical companies working across Pakistan's largest city, Karachi. We then conducted a content analysis of policies on ethical practice issued by two regulatory bodies responsible in Pakistan, and the World Health Organization. This enabled a systematic comparison of incentivisation practices with what is considered 'prohibitive' or 'permissive' in policy. Our findings demonstrate that incentivisation of physicians to meet pharmaceutical sales targets is the norm, and that both parties play in the symbiotic physician-pharma incentivisation dynamics. Further, we were able to categorise the types of incentive exchanged into one of five categories: financial, material, professional or educational, social or recreational, and familial. Our comparison of incentivisation practices with policies revealed three reasons for such widespread incentivisation linked to sales targets: first, some clear policies were being ignored by physicians; second, there are ambiguous or contradictory policies with respect to specific incentive types; and third, numerous incentive types are unaddressed by existing policies, such as pharmaceutical companies paying for private clinic renovations. There is a need for policies to be clarified and updated, and to build buy-in for policy enforcement from pharmaceutical companies and physicians, such that transgressions on target-driven prescribing are seen to be unethical.

Energy Communities in Urban Areas: Comparison of Energy Strategy and Economic Feasibility in Italy and Spain

Energy communities using renewable energy sources directly contributes to reduction of climate change gas emissions and energy consumption in the European Union. In addition, energy communities enable citizens to transform from (passive) consumers to prosumers (active consumers and producers) and to play a proactive role in the deployment of energy transition in urban areas. As the transposition of European rules about energy communities into the national laws of EU Member States is very articulated and differentiated, this study proposes a framework to analyze and compare regulatory and financial instruments. This framework is applied to the analysis of the cases of Italy and Spain as representative of European states in which collective actions in the energy sector are not very common, with the aim of highlighting the main critical issues affecting the effectiveness of energy transition strategies and assessing the economic feasibility of energy communities. Based on analysis of regulations and procedures, including at the local level, it appears that municipalities play an important role as promoters of initiatives among citizen communities, while complex bureaucratic procedure is the most critical issue in both countries and can significantly hinder the spread of energy communities. With respect to the different financial incentives available for the formation of energy communities in Italy and Spain, a few cases studies are hypothesized, calculating the most relevant cost-effectiveness indicators, e.g., Net Present Value. It turns out that a project with the same characteristics achieves greater economic feasibility in Italy than in Spain, depending on the type and size of incentives set by national laws and, above all, that financial incentives are necessary to make the formation of energy communities cost-effective and thus to achieve direct citizen involvement in energy transition actions.

Incentivizing green technology innovation to confront sustainable development

Sustainable development relies to some extent on the ability of key industries to transition towards production based on green technologies. The shift to green technology can occur through incremental innovation or disruptive innovation. Moreover, market forces will not usually promote a shift to green products without government intervention. We assume a market where incumbents and new entrants, characterized as low and high-cost producers, respectively, manufacture a product. They receive subsidies from the government for choosing a type of green technology innovation, which, in turn, affects their production costs. Two types of incentives are considered: subsidizing technology innovation or the product itself. The theoretical model and numerical simulations developed herein indicate that both types of firms choose incremental innovation when subsidizing the product. However, when subsidizing green innovation, new entrants are the first to choose disruptive innovation. Interestingly, incumbents will follow only if the subsidy is high enough. Our results suggest that new entrants, disadvantaged by their higher costs, use the subsidy to catch up with incumbents. Therefore, they embrace disruptive innovation to potentially change the market's structure in their favor. We discuss the policy implications of these results for advancing sustainable development.