Conveniently Upset: Avoiding Altruism by Distorting Beliefs about Others' Altruism

S-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review
Year: 2015
Volume: 105
Issue: 11
Pages: 3416-42

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

We present results from a "corruption game" (a dictator game modified so that recipients can take a side payment in exchange for accepting a reduction in the overall size of the pie). Dictators (silently) treated to be able to take more of the recipient's tokens, took more of them. They were also more likely to believe that recipients had accepted side payments, even if there was a prize for accuracy. The results favor the hypothesis that people avoid altruistic actions by distorting beliefs about others' altruism. (JEL C72, D63, D64, D83)

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aecrev:v:105:y:2015:i:11:p:3416-42
Journal Field
General
Author Count
4
Added to Database
2026-01-25