MIT Applied Cooperation Initiative

Work with PG&E

PG&E is an electric utility serving most of Northern California. We teamed up to develop and test ways of promoting participation in their SmartAC program, a 'Demand Side Management' program that helps to prevent blackouts. Our simple 'observability' intervention tripled participation in the program.

"Powering Up with Indirect Reciprocity in a Large-scale Field Experiment."

Yoeli, Erez, Moshe Hoffman, David G. Rand, and Martin A. Nowak. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Vol. 110, No. s2 (2013): 10424-429. Download Paper.

Related press:
 

Reputation vs. Cash Rewards: How to Inspire Good Behavior
TIME; June 14, 2013
Read Article