Browsing by Author "Ibanez, Marcela"

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Can we do policy recommendations from a framed field experiment? The case of coca cultivation in Colombia
(2008-05-27T13:09:02Z) Ibanez, Marcela; Martinsson, Peter
Laboratory experiments are potentially effective tools for studying behavior in settings where little or no information would otherwise exist such as participation in illicit activities. However, using laboratory experiments to draw policy recommendations is highly debatable. We investigate the external validity of a framed field experiment that mimics coca cultivation and find evidence that behavior in the experiment is consistent with self-reported behavior. We use the experiment to discuss the effectiveness of carrot and stick policies on coca investments. The experiment indicates that subjects are more responsive to changes in the relative profit of cattle farming than to changes in the probability of coca eradication.
A choice experiment on coca cropping
(2008-02-13T10:12:47Z) Ibanez, Marcela; Carlsson, Fredrik
Between 1997 and 2005, 5.2 billion USD were invested to reduce cocaine production in Colombia, the world’s main cocaine producer. However, little is known about the effectiveness of policies targeting coca cultivation, this paper evaluates the effects of the two main policies: eradication and alternative development. We measure the responsiveness of farmers to eradication and alternative development programs using a survey based experiment. Our results support Becker’s (1968) model of crime participation and in addition shed light on other non-monetary factors that affect the coca cultivation decision. Social norms, legitimacy, and poverty are found to be affecting coca cultivation. We find that the responses are to a large extent consistent, and the model prediction of the proportion of farmer growing coca is accurate. We also illustrate how the results can be used to draw policy conclusions, but conclude that better information about the costs is needed.
Searching for a better deal - on the influence of group decision making, time pressure and gender in a search experiment
(2008-04-07T13:39:21Z) Ibanez, Marcela; Czermak, Simon; Sutter, Matthias
We study behavior in a search experiment where sellers receive randomized bids from a computer. At any time, sellers can accept the highest standing bid or ask for another bid at positive costs. We find that sellers stop searching earlier than theoretically optimal. Inducing a mild form of time pressure strengthens this finding in the early periods. There are marked gender differences. Men search significantly shorter than women. If subjects search in groups of two subjects, there is no difference to individual search, but teams of two women search much longer than men and recall more frequently.