Analytical thinking, prosocial voting, and intergroup competition: experimental evidence from China

B-Tier
Journal: Public Choice
Year: 2022
Volume: 191
Issue: 3
Pages: 363-385

Authors (3)

Rebecca B. Morton Kai Ou (not in RePEc) Xiangdong Qin (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

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

Abstract

Abstract We investigate whether and how analytical thinking affects Muslims’ prosocial voting towards in-group (fellow Muslims) and out-group (Han Chinese) members. We conduct an incentivized laboratory-style voting experiment in western China, where tension and competition exist between the two ethnic groups. We find a significant negative effect of analytical thinking on prosocial voting in general. We also find that the effect of analytical thinking is related to group identity: A strong and significant negative effect is found on behavior towards out-group members, but a small and generally insignificant effect towards in-group members. Our results are consistent with group competition affecting the benefits and costs of prosocial voting, and those benefits and costs become more salient when engaging in analytical thinking.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:kap:pubcho:v:191:y:2022:i:3:d:10.1007_s11127-020-00859-6
Journal Field
Public
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-26