Events

Speaker:

Dr. Kohei Kawaguchi
Assistant Professor
Department of Economics
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Abstract:

This paper studies if and under what conditions workers follow an algorithm, in the context of experimentation with product assortments for beverage vending machines. I develop an algorithm to automate the human task, and use simulation to show that it increases revenue. I then conduct a field experiment where I introduce the algorithm. However, it fails to increase revenue, because workers are not willing to follow it. They follow only when their opinions are integrated. Workers having more regret from the last business semester follow the algorithmic advice more, and less when their opinions are integrated.