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Local Institutions and the Dynamics of Community Sorting

Author

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  • Andrea Robbett

Abstract

This paper studies the dynamics by which populations with heterogeneous preferences for public good provision sort themselves into communities. I conduct laboratory experiments to consider which institutions best facilitate efficient self-organization when residents can move freely between locations. I find that institutions requiring all residents of a community to pay equal taxes enable subjects to sort into stable, homogeneous communities. Though sorted, residents often fail to attain the provision level best suited for them. When residents can vote for local tax policies with ballots, along with their feet, each community converges to the most efficient outcome for its population.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrea Robbett, 2014. "Local Institutions and the Dynamics of Community Sorting," American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, American Economic Association, vol. 6(3), pages 136-156, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aejmic:v:6:y:2014:i:3:p:136-56
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/mic.6.3.136
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Cobo-Reyes, Ramón & Katz, Gabriel & Meraglia, Simone, 2019. "Endogenous sanctioning institutions and migration patterns: Experimental evidence," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 575-606.
    2. Ramón Cobo-Reyes & Gabriel Katz & Thomas Markussen & Simone Meraglia, 2022. "Voting on sanctioning institutions in open and closed communities: experimental evidence," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 58(3), pages 619-677, April.
    3. Huber, Juergen & Shubik, Martin & Sunder, Shyam, 2018. "Financing of public goods through taxation in a general equilibrium economy: Experimental evidence," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 171-188.
    4. Duk Gyoo Kim, 2020. "Clustering Standard Errors at the "Session" Level," CESifo Working Paper Series 8386, CESifo.
    5. Baccara, Mariagiovanna & Yariv, Leeat, 2016. "Choosing peers: Homophily and polarization in groups," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 152-178.
    6. Gürerk, Özgür & Irlenbusch, Bernd & Rockenbach, Bettina, 2014. "On cooperation in open communities," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 220-230.
    7. Andrea Robbett, 2015. "Voting with hands and feet: the requirements for optimal group formation," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 18(3), pages 522-541, September.
    8. Hui-Chun Peng, 2021. "An experimental study on voluntary vs. compulsory provision of public goods under the vote-with-feet mechanism," Evolutionary and Institutional Economics Review, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 1-19, April.
    9. Brütt, Katharina & Schram, Arthur & Sonnemans, Joep, 2020. "Endogenous group formation and responsibility diffusion: An experimental study," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 1-31.
    10. David M. Brasington, 2017. "What types of people sort to which public services?," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 96(3), pages 537-553, August.
    11. Andrea Robbett, 2016. "Community dynamics in the lab," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 46(3), pages 543-568, March.

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C73 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Stochastic and Dynamic Games; Evolutionary Games
    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • H21 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Efficiency; Optimal Taxation
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • H71 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue
    • H73 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - Interjurisdictional Differentials and Their Effects

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