incitaments

Incitaments, in English more commonly called incentives, are mechanisms designed to motivate people to take a particular action or to achieve a desired outcome by altering the costs or benefits associated with that action. They aim to change behavior by shifting the relative attractiveness of alternatives, rather than by coercion.

The term incitament derives from Latin incitare, meaning to urge on. In English usage, incitament is less common and may appear in legal or translated texts, but the standard term is incentive. Incitaments can be described as broad categories of inducements used in policy, business, and social settings.

They can be direct or indirect, monetary or non-monetary, and material or social. Examples include tax credits, subsidies, performance bonuses, contracts with reward clauses, regulatory exemptions, public recognition, or faster service—each designed to make a desired action more likely or advantageous.

Applications span public policy, corporate governance, and education. Governments use incitaments to spur investment, energy efficiency, vaccination, or adherence to regulations. Businesses employ them to align employee performance with company goals, promote sales, or encourage innovation. Educational programs may use scholarships or achievement-based rewards to raise attainment.

Design and evaluation are critical. Effective incitaments have clear targets, measurable outcomes, proportional rewards, and mechanisms to monitor results. They should anticipate potential distortions, gaming, or unintended consequences, and be revisable based on evidence of impact and cost-effectiveness. Critics warn that poorly designed incentives can undermine intrinsic motivation or create dependency if rewards are misaligned with long-term objectives.

See also incentive, subsidy, grant, performance-based pay.