Philip Oreopoulos, Noah Spencer
ABSTRACT: This paper discusses the importance of incorporating personal assistance into
interventions aimed at improving long-term education and labor market success. While
existing research demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of low-touch behavioral nudges,
this paper argues that the dynamic nature of human capital accumulation requires
sustained habits over time. To foster better habits, social connections are critical for
encouraging enduring effort and intrinsic motivation. The paper links the role of personal
assistance to economic theories of human capital investment and decision-making and
showcases examples from various stages of skill accumulation, including early childhood,
adolescence, and adulthood, in which interventions that incorporate personal assistance
substantially out-perform less intensive nudges. We underscore the importance of
interactive support, guidance, and motivation in facilitating significant progress and
explore the challenges associated with implementing cost-effective policies to provide
such assistance.