Choosing Your Object of Benevolence: A Field Experiment on Donation Options

B-Tier
Journal: Scandanavian Journal of Economics
Year: 2013
Volume: 115
Issue: 1
Pages: 62-73

Authors (2)

Score contribution per author:

1.005 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

In a large natural field experiment, we explore the effect of providing donors with the opportunity of choosing the target country for their donations. We find that our treatment manipulation affects neither the average donation size nor the response rate. Only a small fraction of donors (3.5 percent) actually choose their object of benevolence. These donors give more than those who do not specify a recipient. However, based on previous donations, we can only provide indicative evidence that this might be a causal effect rather than a mere selection effect.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:bla:scandj:v:115:y:2013:i:1:p:62-73
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25