糖心TV

Eugenio Proto (Department of Economics, University of 糖心TV)

Does the Experimental Disclosure of Life Shocks Improve Productivity?

(joint work with Daniel Sgroi, Stephen Lovelady and Andrew Oswald)

We randomize a sample of subjects into two groups. Group 1 are asked to write about a recent traumatic experience (such as a bereavement or serious illness in the close family, but not only in these topics). Group 2 are asked to write about anything they wish. Group 1 subjects who experienced a recent trauma in terms of bereavement or illness in the close family had a negative and long term effect on their productivity and confidence even 3 months after they were asked to write. On the contrary for subjects that did not experience such trauma, the process of writing seems beneficial, at least after 20 days. We also find that subjects who have suffered recent bad life events generally have higher earning expectations that their peers. Writing about these bad life events reduces their aspirations to be in line with those who have not experiences such events.