Using Experimental Economics to Measure Social Capital and Predict Financial Decisions

S-Tier
Journal: American Economic Review
Year: 2005
Volume: 95
Issue: 5
Pages: 1688-1699

Score contribution per author:

8.043 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

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

Abstract

Questions remain as to whether results from experimental economics are generalizable to real decisions in nonlaboratory settings. Furthermore, questions persist about whether social capital helps mitigate information asymmetries in credit markets. I examine whether behavior in two laboratory games, Trust and a Public Goods, predicts loan repayments to a Peruvian group-lending microfinance program. Since this program relies on social capital to enforce repayment, this tests the external validity of the games. Individuals identified as "trustworthy" by the Trust Game are indeed less likely to default on their loans. No similar support is found for the game's identification of "trusting" individuals.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aecrev:v:95:y:2005:i:5:p:1688-1699
Journal Field
General
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-25