Upcoming Seminars

場所：2号館11階経済学部会議室B

Venue: 11th Floor, Bldg. No.2 Meeting Room B 

幹事/Organizer：長谷部拓也/Takuya Hasebe & 橋立洋祐/Yosuke Hashidate

言語/Language：英語/English

要旨/Abstract: How does signal space size affect demand for information? We run laboratory experiments where signals vary in cardinality but hold instrumental value constant under expected utility. In our main setting, subjects purchase signals revealing which state determines the outcome of a compound lottery, and willingness to pay rises with signal space size—contradicting expected utility theory. Robustness tests show bids track instrumental value when it varies,ruling out misunderstanding. In another setting where lotteries include a free signal, valuations no longer increase with space size. We propose an entropy-based framework where people derive non-instrumental utility from uncertainty reduction, reflecting curiosity-driven motives.

場所：2号館11階経済学部会議室B

Venue: 11th Floor, Bldg. No.2 Meeting Room B 

幹事/Organizer：長谷部拓也/Takuya Hasebe 

言語/Language：英語/English

要旨/Abstract: This paper presents evidence from a randomized controlled trial evaluating a bundled digital intervention combining weather index insurance, localized weather forecasts, and agricultural extension services delivered via SMS to smallholder maize farmers in southern Mali. The study analyzes data from approximately 1,500 maize farming households across diverse agro-climatic zones and finds that the intervention generates economically and statistically significant improvements in farming practices, leading to substantial increases in maize yields and farm income. These effects are driven by better-informed decision-making enabled by timely and relevant weather information and agronomic advice, which induces adjustments in input use. A cost-benefit analysis indicates that the intervention is highly cost-effective. We discuss implications for scaling digital agricultural services in low-income settings and highlight avenues for future bundles.

場所：2号館11階経済学部会議室B

Venue: 11th Floor, Bldg. No.2 Meeting Room B 

幹事/Organizer：村上勇気/Yuki Murakami

言語/Language：英語/English

要旨/Abstract: TBA