People are often motivated by cash, even for something as important as vaccinations. In the case of COVID-19 vaccines, previous studies have shown that financial bonuses raise the number of people who get the shot. These studies concluded that the direct impact of cash incentives could be small but positive.

    But here is where things get interesting. Social factors can sometimes make things complicated. So it is not always just about the money. Consider this: people living in the same neighborhood, or those who share close ties with those who have been given the incentive, may not have such a straightforward reaction. This could change the overall outcome of the incentive program.

    So, while cash might push people to step up and get their jab, the outcome is not as simple as it first seems. The social effects, like how people influence each other, can dilute the effect of the cash bonus.

    We often don't consider how social ties influence outcomes when implemented with these incentives. This makes us think critically about the real-world effects of these policies.

    Social spillovers are one of the reasons why some vaccination programs fall short of expectations or hit unexpected hurdles. . The problem is that it can't be predicted who will influence the next person. The reason for it is that social factors go beyond logic and this is complex. Patterns of behavior, beliefs and peer relationships can play a crucial role.

    It's clear that more than just money is at play when it comes to vaccinations.

The Vaccine Cash Quest: Does money convince more people to get vaccinated?

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