Delegating decisions to a lottery can reduce preference for control

C-Tier
Journal: Economics Letters
Year: 2025
Volume: 257
Issue: C

Authors (3)

Estache, Antonio (Université Libre de Bruxelles) Foucart, Renaud (not in RePEc) Georgalos, Konstantinos (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.335 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 0.5x C-tier

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

Abstract

We compare in a laboratory experiment preferences for control versus two different forms of delegation. Subjects solve tasks and choose to be paid based on their own answer, their matched partner’s answer, or a “choice lottery” that randomly selects between the two with equal probability. The standard preference for direct control prevails when the delegation is to a specific person. It disappears when the delegation is to a choice lottery. This suggests that resistance to delegation may be reduced when decision-makers can retain partial control by contributing to the choice even if only randomly.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:ecolet:v:257:y:2025:i:c:s0165176525005130
Journal Field
General
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-25