Voluntary contributions with redistribution: The effect of costly sanctions when one person's punishment is another's reward

B-Tier
Journal: Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization
Year: 2013
Volume: 95
Issue: C
Pages: 34-48

Authors (3)

Page, Talbot (not in RePEc) Putterman, Louis (Brown University) Garcia, Bruno (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

We introduce new treatments of a voluntary contribution mechanism with opportunities to punish in order to see how contributions, punishments and earnings change when punishment is in the form of fines the punisher distributes to other members of her group. The linked punishment-reward set up is of theoretical interest and could represent simultaneous shifts of social disapproval and approval. Conjectures that punishment will be better targeted, and that it will be more substantial for given deviation from others’ contributions, receive support. Making punishment redistributive increases contributions and efficiency, even after netting out the design's free resource element.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:jeborg:v:95:y:2013:i:c:p:34-48
Journal Field
Theory
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-29