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Rational Inattention during a Randomized Controlled Trial

Bartosz Maćkowiak & Mirko Wiederholt

American Economic Review: Insights2026https://doi.org/10.1257/aeri.20240509article
AJG 3ABDC A*
Weight
0.50

Abstract

We introduce an information provision experiment into a standard dynamic rational inattention model. We derive analytical results about how the treatment effect varies with characteristics of the environment and the individual. We use these results to discuss findings in the empirical literature on information provision experiments that can be explained by rational inattention of survey respondents and what this interpretation implies about behavior outside the survey. (JEL C90, D83, D91)

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https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1257/aeri.20240509

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@article{bartosz2026,
  title        = {{Rational Inattention during a Randomized Controlled Trial}},
  author       = {Bartosz Maćkowiak & Mirko Wiederholt},
  journal      = {American Economic Review: Insights},
  year         = {2026},
  doi          = {https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1257/aeri.20240509},
}

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Rational Inattention during a Randomized Controlled Trial

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Evidence weight

0.50

Balanced mode · F 0.40 / M 0.15 / V 0.05 / R 0.40

F · citation impact0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20
M · momentum0.50 × 0.15 = 0.07
V · venue signal0.50 × 0.05 = 0.03
R · text relevance †0.50 × 0.4 = 0.20

† Text relevance is estimated at 0.50 on the detail page — for your query’s actual relevance score, open this paper from a search result.