Work

Right-sizing incentives

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This paper presents results from a field experiment in Nigeria in which expectant mothers were offered cash payments of N2500, N4000 or N10000 conditioned on using formal medical care. A secondary intervention provided some mothers with an information signal about their pregnancy risk. We find highly non-linear effects of conditional payments-most of the incentive effect occurs on the extensive margin, with rapidly diminishing returns to incentive size. We also uncover new spillover effects: showing that incentives increase healthcare use in childhood by index children and by other children in the household. We find largely null effects of the information signal.

Source: Journal of Development Economics

DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2026.103834

Authors: Edward N. Okeke, Isa S. Abubakar

Institutions: RAND School of Public Policy, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Bayero University Kano

Language: English

Topic: Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare

Subfield: Safety Research

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: No poverty

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,590