We complement the empirical evidence on the sustainability of weight loss achieved through cash rewards and, for the first time, rigorously examine the potential of cash rewards to prevent weight cycling. In a three period randomized controlled trial, about 700 obese persons were first assigned...

This paper examines weight loss and the formation of healthy habits through cash rewards in the context of a multi-phase randomized controlled trial involving 700 obese individuals. We find effects of monetary incentives for weight loss of up to EUR 300 on body weight during all experimental...

This paper examines weight loss and the formation of healthy habits through cash rewards in the context of a multi-phase randomized controlled trial involving 700 obese individuals. We find effects of monetary incentives for weight loss of up to EUR 300 on body weight during all experimental...

We test whether financial incentives have an effect on weight reduction in a randomized controlled trial involving 700 obese persons assigned to three experimental groups. While two treatment groups obtain €150 and €300, respectively, for achieving an individually assigned target weight...

We test whether financial incentives have an effect on weight reduction in a randomized controlled trial involving 700 obese persons assigned to three experimental groups. While two treatment groups obtain €150 and €300, respectively, for achieving an individually assigned target weight...

Am 1. Januar 2004 trat in Deutschland das Gesetz zur Modernisierung der gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung in Kraft. Neben anderen politischen Maßnahmen beinhaltete es die Einführung der Praxisgebühr von 10 Euro für den ersten Arztbesuch innerhalb eines Quartals. Ziel dieser Maßnahme war es,...

This paper examines the effect of copayments on doctor visits using the German health care reform of 2004 as a natural experiment. In January 2004, copayments of 10 euros for the first doctor visit in each quarter have been introduced for all adults in the statutory health insurance. Individuals...

Die industrialisierte Welt erlebt zurzeit aufgrund der von SARS-CoV-2 ("Corona-Virus") ausgelösten Pandemie eine einmalige Krisensituation. Die vorliegende RWI Position stellt sieben Empfehlungen für eine Strategie zum Umgang mit der akuten Herausforderung im Gesundheitswesen auf. Ihre...

The evaluation of interventions such as active labor market policies or medical programs by means of a randomized controlled trial is often considered the gold standard. However, randomized experiments might face severe shortcomings especially if performed at the group level. One such problem is...