My research focuses on questions in
microeconomics, with a particular emphasis on the use of experimental methods
to address both positive and normative issues.
Much of my time has been spent developing experimental methods in the
field.
My general research strategy is to take
advantage of settings where interesting economic phenomena naturally present
themselves. In most cases nature does
not properly randomize agents into interesting control and treatment groups, so
my chore is to develop markets/constructs/experimental designs wherein subjects
are randomized into treatments of interest.
In this light, I view field experiments as representing a unique manner
in which to obtain data because they force the researcher to understand everyday
phenomena, many of which we stumble upon frequently. Merely grasping the interrelationships of
factors in field settings is not enough, however, as the field experimenter
must then seek to understand more distant phenomena that have the same
underlying structure. Until this is
achieved, one cannot reap the true rewards of field experimentation.
I have made use of several different
markets to obtain data in my field experiments, including a myriad of
charitable fundraising activities, the Chicago Board of Trade, Costa Rican
CEOs, the new automobile market, sports memorabilia markets, coin markets, auto
repair markets, open air markets located everywhere—from the US to Morocco to
India—various venues on the internet, several auction settings, shopping malls,
various labor markets, and grammar and high schools.
More recently, I have been engaged in a
series of field experiments with various publicly traded corporations—from car
manufacturers to travel companies. I
view this as exciting because I can put economic theories/approaches on the
line in markets economists concern themselves with; results thus far have been
above expectations, as successful field experiments yielding quite interesting
data patterns have been generated. The
companies have loved the field experiments too, since they have made some cash
(note that my payment is not money, but the data—a few papers are very close
for public distribution).
Overall, the data that I have collected
have provided insights into pricing behavior, discrimination in the
marketplace, the valuation of nonmarketed goods and services, public good
provisioning, behavioral anomalies, charitable giving, auction theory, and the
role of the market in the development of rationality.
Methodologically, I have spent time
thinking about whether laboratory behavior is a good
In this manner, I view field experiments
as representing a bridge between the lab and naturally-occurring data. Please visit my website for a clearinghouse
of field experiments that help shape this bridge: http://www.fieldexperiments.com/
Some recent discussions of my work can be
found here:
http://research.yale.edu/karlan/downloads/NYTimes.June15-2006.pdf
http://aida.econ.yale.edu/karlan/news/NYTimes.June15-2006.pdf
http://economics.uchicago.edu/news_JohnList.shtml
http://aida.econ.yale.edu/karlan/news/Philanthropy.june14-2006.pdf
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17312118/site/newsweek/page/3/
http://www.nber.org/reporter/2008number4/list.html
http://philanthropy.com/
Below I list
some recent publications. The field
website provided above includes copies of many of these studies as well as
several others.
Selected
Recent Publications (please contact me if you desire a complete publication
list)
Landry,
Craig, Andreas Lange, John A. List, Michael K. Price, and Nicholas G. Rupp, “Is
a Donor in Hand Better than Two in the Bush?
Evidence from a Natural Field Experiment.,” American Economic
Review, (2009), forthcoming.
Levitt,
Steven D., John A. List, and David Reiley, “What Happens in the Field Stays in
the Field: Professionals Do Not Play Minimax in Laboratory Experiments,” Econometrica,
forthcoming, 2009.
Levitt, Steven D. and John A. List, “Field Experiments in Economics: The Past, The Present, and The Future,"
European
Economic Review, forthcoming, 2009.
Gneezy, Uri, Kenneth Leonard, and John
A. List, “Gender Differences in Competition: Evidence from a Matrilineal and a
Patriarchal Society,” Econometrica (2009), forthcoming.
Haigh, Michael and List, John A., “Investment under Uncertainty: Testing the Options Model with Professional
Traders,” Review of Economics and Statistics, (2009), forthcoming.
List, John A.,
“Informed Consent in Social Science,” Science, October 21,
2008, 322(5886), p. 672.
List, John A., “Homo
experimentalis evolves,” Science, July 11, 2008,
321(5886), pp. 207-208.
Fryer, Roland G. Steven D. Levitt, and
John A. List, “Exploring the
impact of financial incentives on stereotype threat: Evidence from a pilot
study,” American Economic Review, (2008) 98(P&P issue), pp.
370-375.
Andersen, Steffen, Erwin Bulte, Uri
Gneezy, and John A. List, “Do women
supply more public goods than men? Preliminary experimental evidence from
matrilineal and patriarchal societies” American Economic Review,
(2008) 98(P&P issue), pp. 376-381.
Levitt, Steven D. and John A. List, “Homo
economicus evolves,” Science, Feburary 15, 2008, 319(5865),
pp. 909-910.
Harrison, Glenn W. and John A. List,
“Naturally Occurring Markets and Exogenous Laboratory Experiments: A Case Study
of the Winner’s Curse,” Economic Journal, (2008), 118, pp. 822-843.
Karlan, Dean and John A. List. “Does Price
Matter in Charitable Giving? Evidence
from a Large-Scale Natural Field Experiment,” American Economic Review,
(2007), 97(5), pp. 1774-1793.
Harrison, Glenn W., John A. List, and
Charles Towe, “Naturally Occurring Preferences and Exogenous Laboratory Experiments: A
Case Study of Risk Aversion,” Econometrica, (2007), 75 (2):
433-458.
Alevy, Jon, Michael Haigh, and John A.
List. “Information Cascades: Evidence from a Field Experiment with Financial
Market Professionals,” Journal of Finance, (2007), 62 (1):
151-180.
List, John A. “On the Interpretation of
Giving in Dictator Games,” Journal of Political Economy,
(2007), 115(3):
482-494.
Lange, Andreas, John A. List, and
Michael K. Price, “Using Lotteries to Finance Public Goods: Theory and
Experimental Evidence,” International Economic Review, (2007),
48(3), pp. 901-927.
Levitt, Steven D. and John A. List,
“What do Laboratory Experiments Measuring Social Preferences tell us about the
Real World,” Journal of Economic Perspectives, (2007), 21 (2): 153-174.
List,
John A. and Daniel Sturm. “How Elections Matter: Theory and Evidence from
Environmental Policy,” Quarterly Journal of Economics, (2006),
November 121(4): 1249-1281.
Gneezy,
Uri, and John A. List. “Putting Behavioral Economics to Work: Testing for Gift
Exchange in Labor Markets Using Field Experiments,” Econometrica, (2006),
September, 74(5): 1365-1384.
List, John A., “Friend or Foe? A Natural Experiment of the Prisoner’s
Dilemma,” Review of Economics and Statistics, (2006), August, 88(3): 463-471
Gneezy, Uri, John A. List, George Wu,
“The Uncertainty Effect: When a Risky Prospect is Valued Less than its Worst
Possible Outcome,” Quarterly Journal of Economics, (2006), November 121(4): 1283-1309.
List,
John A., “The Behavioralist Meets the Market: Measuring Social Preferences and Reputation
Effects in Actual Transactions,” Journal of Political Economy,
(2006), 114(1): 1-37.
Landry,
Craig, Andreas Lange, John A. List, Michael K. Price, and Nicholas Rupp.
"Toward an Understanding of the Economics of Charity: Evidence from a
Field Experiment,” Quarterly Journal of Economics, (2006), 121
(2): 747-782.
van
Doest, Daan, John A. List, and T. Jeppesen "Shadow Prices, Environmental
Stringency, and International Competitiveness," European Economic
Review, (2006), 50(5):
1151-1167.
Engelbrecht-Wiggans,
Richard, John A. List, and David Reiley. “Demand Reduction in a Multi-Unit
Auctions with Varying Numbers of Bidders: Theory and Evidence from a Field
Experiment,” International Economic Review (2006), 47(1): 203-232.
Haigh,
Michael and List, John A. “Do Professional Traders Exhibit Myopic Loss
Aversion? An Experimental Analysis,” Journal of Finance, (2005), 60 (1):
523-534.
List,
John A. and Michael K. Price "Conspiracies and Secret Price Discounts in
the Marketplace: Evidence from Field Experiments," Rand Journal of
Economics, (2005), 36(3): 700-717.
Engelbrecht-Wiggans,
Richard, John A. List, and David Reiley. “Demand Reduction in a Multi-Unit
Auction: Evidence from a Sportscard Field Experiment: Reply,” American
Economic Review (2005), 95 (1): 472-476.
List,
John A. and Michael Haigh. “A Simple Test of Expected Utility Theory Using
Professional Traders,” Proceedings of the
List,
John A. "Testing Neoclassical Competitive Theory in Multi-Lateral
Decentralized Markets," Journal of Political Economy (2004),
112(5): 1131-1156.
List,
John A. Robert Berrens, Alok Bohara, and Joe Kerkvliet. "Examining the
Role of Social Isolation on Stated Preferences," American Economic Review
(2004), 94 (3): 741-752.
Harrison,
Glenn and John A. List. "Field Experiments," Journal
of Economic Literature (2004), XLII (December): 1013-1059.
List,
John A. "Neoclassical Theory Versus Prospect Theory: Evidence from the
Marketplace," Econometrica (2004), 72(2): 615-625.
List,
John A. “The Nature and Extent of Discrimination in the Marketplace:
Evidence from the Field,” Quarterly Journal of Economics
(2004), 119(1): 49-89.
Fehr,
Ernst and List, John A. “The Hidden Costs and Returns of Incentives – Trust and
Trustworthiness among CEOs,” Journal of the European Economic Association
(2004), 2(5), 743-771.
List,
John A. "Young, Selfish, and Male: Field Evidence of Social
Preferences," Economic Journal (2004), 114(492): 121-149.
List,
John A. “Does Market Experience Eliminate Market Anomalies?,” Quarterly
Journal of Economics (2003), 118(1), 41-71.
Pacala,
Steven, Erwin Bulte, John A. List, and Simon Levin, "False Alarm over
Environmental False Alarms," Science (2003), 301(5637),
1187-1189.
Millimet,
Daniel, List, John A., and Stengos, Thanasis. "The Environmental
Kuznets Curve: Real Progress or Misspecified Models?" Review
of Economics and Statistics (2003), 85: 1038-1047.
List,
John A., Millimet, Daniel, Fredriksson, Per, and McHone, Warren. "Effects
of Environmental Regulations on Manufacturing Plant Births: Evidence from a
Propensity Score Matching Estimator," Review of Economics and
Statistics (2003), 85: 944-952.
Fredriksson,
Per, List, John A. and Millimet, Daniel. “Bureaucratic Corruption, Environmental
Policy and Inbound
List,
John A. "Preference Reversals of a Different Kind: The More is Less
Phenomenon," American Economic Review (2002), 92(5): 1636-1643.
List,
John A. and Lucking-Reiley, David. “The Effects of Seed Money and Refunds on
Charitable Giving: Experimental Evidence
from a University Capital Campaign,” Journal of Political Economy (2002),
110(1): 215-233
List,
John A. "Testing Neoclassical Competitive Market Theory in the
Field," Proceedings of the
List,
John A. “Do Explicit Warnings Eliminate the Hypothetical Bias in Elicitation
Procedures? Evidence from Field Auctions for Sportscards,” American Economic Review
(2001), 91(5): 1498-1507.
List,
John A. and Lucking-Reiley, David. “Demand Reduction in a Multi-Unit
Auction: Evidence from a Sportscard
Field Experiment,” American Economic Review (2000), September, 90(4): 961-972.
List John A.
and Jason F. Shogren,
“Calibration
of the difference between actual and hypothetical valuations in a field
experiment.” Journal of
Economic Behavior and Organization, (1998), 37 (2): 193-205. This study reports on the first field
experiment that I conducted scientifically.
Although I conducted what amounted to several pilots in this market during
the late 80s and early 90s, this experiment, which was conducted in 1995, was
my first true experience with a controlled scientific study in the field.
1. Recent Advances in
Environmental Economics. Edward Elgar
Publishers. Edited with Aart de Zeeuw.
2003.
2. Field Experiments in
Economics. Handbook of Experimental Economics. Elsevier. Edited with
Jeffrey Carpenter and
3. Using Experimental Methods
in Environmental and Resource Economics.
Edward
Elgar Publishers. Edited, 2006.
4. Field Experiments.
5. Handbook of Experimental
Economics. Edward Elgar
Publishers. Edited with Michael Price, 2007
(in progress).