Center for Health Systems Research, National Institute of Public Health, Cuernavaca, Mexico.
Faculty of Social Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
PLoS One. 2022 Mar 30;17(3):e0265389. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265389. eCollection 2022.
Based on a behavioral economics (BE) approach, we analyzed the decision to participate in an early childhood development (ECD) program implemented in Mexico by a non-governmental organization. We conducted a literature review and a qualitative study of four localities participating in the ECD program. Situated in the state of Oaxaca, these communities are characterized by high and very high levels of social marginalization. From May 20 to 30, 2019, we collected primary data through semi-structured interviews (n = 30) and focus groups (n = 7) with a total of 61 informants (51 women and 10 men). We then performed an inductive systematic analysis of the data to identify documented cognitive bias associated with the decisions of individuals to participate and remain in or abandon social programs. The interviewees were living in conditions of poverty, facing difficulties in meeting even their most basic needs including food. Program participants attached far greater weight to incentives such as the basic food basket than to the other benefits offered by the program. The four localities visited maintained traditional views of domestic roles and practices, particularly regarding child-rearing, where women were in charge of childcare, home care and food preparation. Problems linked to child malnutrition were a decisive factor in the decision of residents to participate and remain in the program. Testimonials gathered during the study demonstrated that the longer the mothers remained in the program, the more they understood and adopted the concepts promoted by the interventions. In contexts marked by economic vulnerability, it is essential that ECD programs create the necessary conditions for maximizing the benefits they offer. Our analysis suggests that cognitive load and present bias were the biases that most severely affected the decision-making capacity of beneficiaries. Therefore, considering loss aversion and improving the management of incentives can help policymakers design actions that "nudge" people into making the kinds of decisions that contribute to their well-being.
基于行为经济学（BE）方法，我们分析了一个非政府组织在墨西哥实施的儿童早期发展（ECD）计划的参与决策。我们进行了文献回顾和对四个参与 ECD 计划的地方的定性研究。这些社区位于瓦哈卡州，其特点是社会边缘化程度高和非常高。2019 年 5 月 20 日至 30 日，我们通过半结构化访谈（n=30）和焦点小组（n=7）收集了主要数据，共有 61 名受访者（51 名女性和 10 名男性）。然后，我们对数据进行了归纳系统分析，以确定与个人参与和继续或放弃社会计划的决定相关的有文件记录的认知偏差。受访者生活在贫困条件下，甚至难以满足最基本的需求，包括食物。计划参与者更看重基本食品篮等激励措施，而不是计划提供的其他福利。我们访问的四个地方都保持着家庭角色和实践的传统观念，特别是在育儿方面，妇女负责照顾孩子、家庭护理和准备食物。儿童营养不良问题是居民参与和继续参与该计划的决定性因素。研究期间收集的证词表明，母亲在该计划中停留的时间越长，她们对干预措施所倡导的概念的理解和接受程度就越高。在经济脆弱的背景下，ECD 计划必须创造必要的条件，以最大限度地发挥其提供的利益。我们的分析表明，认知负荷和当前偏差是最严重影响受益人的决策能力的偏差。因此，考虑到损失厌恶并改善激励措施的管理，可以帮助政策制定者设计“推动”人们做出有助于其福祉的决策的行动。
