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Inequity aversion and advantage seeking with asymmetric competition

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  • Cox, Caleb A.

Abstract

In this experiment I study a novel three-player ultimatum game in which two proposers with unequal amounts of money simultaneously submit offers to one responder, who may accept at most one offer. I compare the predictions of inequity aversion, advantage seeking, and self-interest. Unlike previously studied cases of symmetric proposer competition, the predictions of these models do not coincide in the asymmetric case. The experimental results show that responders sometimes accept the smaller offer, and the degree of asymmetry between proposers affects responder behavior. The results further suggest heterogeneity among responders, with advantage-seeking preferences occurring most frequently.

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  • Cox, Caleb A., 2013. "Inequity aversion and advantage seeking with asymmetric competition," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 121-136.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:86:y:2013:i:c:p:121-136
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2012.12.020
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    Cited by:

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    2. Biao Luo & Chengyuan Wang & Tieshan Li, 2018. "Inequity-averse agents’ deserved concerns under the linear contract: a social network setting," Annals of Operations Research, Springer, vol. 268(1), pages 129-148, September.
    3. Cox, Caleb A., 2017. "Rent-seeking and competitive preferences," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 102-116.
    4. Deck, Cary A. & Thomas, Charles J., 2020. "Using experiments to compare the predictive power of models of multilateral negotiations," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    5. Lucio Esposito & Shatakshee Dhongde & Christopher Millett, 2021. "Smoking habits in Mexico: Upward and downward comparisons of economic status," Review of Development Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(3), pages 1558-1575, August.
    6. Priyodorshi Banerjee & Sujoy Chakravarty & Sanmitra Ghosh, 2016. "Partner Selection and the Division of Surplus: Evidence from Ultimatum and Dictator Experiments," Games, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-18, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Behavioral economics; Fairness; Experiments; Ultimatum game; Competition;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement

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