The framing of financial windfalls and 3 implications for public policy

8 Governments, employers, and companies provide financial windfalls to individuals with some regularity. 9 Recent evidence suggests the framing (or description) of these windfalls can dramatically influence their 10 consumption. In particular, objectively identical income described as a positive departure from the status 11 quo (e.g., as a bonus) is more readily spent than income described as a return to the status quo (e.g., as a 12 rebate). Such findings are consistent with psychological accounts of decision making and should supplement 13 existing economic models. These results have important implications for the marketing of such windfalls, 14 and discussion focuses particularly on implications for government tax policies. 15 © 2006 Published by Elsevier Inc. 16 JEL classification: E210 17