An experimental test of the Coase conjecture: Fairness in dynamic bargaining

A-Tier
Journal: RAND Journal of Economics
Year: 2022
Volume: 53
Issue: 1
Pages: 138-165

Authors (2)

Jack Fanning (Brown University) Andrew Kloosterman (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

2.018 = (α=2.02 / 2 authors) × 2.0x A-tier

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

Abstract

We conduct a novel experimental test of the Coase conjecture based on subjects' privately known preferences for fairness. In an infinite horizon bargaining game, a proposer proposes a division of chips, until a responder accepts. When players are patient, the Coase conjecture predicts almost immediate agreement on equal monetary payoffs given any possibility a responder will not accept anything less. Behavior closely matches theory. In particular, when chips are worth more to proposers than responders, initial offers, minimum acceptable offers, responder payoffs, and efficiency are significantly larger in infinite horizon games than ultimatum games, and proposer payoffs are significantly smaller.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:bla:randje:v:53:y:2022:i:1:p:138-165
Journal Field
Industrial Organization
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25