Betrayal Aversion: Evidence from Brazil, China, Oman, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United States

S-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review
Year: 2008
Volume: 98
Issue: 1
Pages: 294-310

Authors (4)

Iris Bohnet Fiona Greig (not in RePEc) Benedikt Herrmann (not in RePEc) Richard Zeckhauser (National Bureau of Economic Re...)

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 4 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

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

Abstract

Due to betrayal aversion, people take risks less willingly when the agent of uncertainty is another person rather than nature. Individuals in six countries (Brazil, China, Oman, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United States) confronted a binary-choice trust game or a risky decision offering the same payoffs and probabilities. Risk acceptance was calibrated by asking individuals their "minimum acceptable probability" (MAP) for securing the high payoff that would make them willing to accept the risky rather than the sure payoff. People's MAPs are generally higher when another person, rather than nature, determines the outcome. This indicates betrayal aversion. (JEL C72, D81, Z13)

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aecrev:v:98:y:2008:i:1:p:294-310
Journal Field
General
Author Count
4
Added to Database
2026-01-24