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The Fragility of a Nudge: the power of self-set norms to contain a social dilemma

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  • Engel, Christoph
  • Kurschilgen, Michael

Abstract

Can self-set normative goals restrain free-riding in a social dilemma? In a first experimental study, we test the effect of two different types of self-set normative goals on people’s willingness to cooperate in a public good game. Focusing on the level of contributions that one can at least be expected to make proves effective at restraining the material incentive to free-ride. Yet in two later studies, with only a minimal change in the wording of the goal, the effect does not replicate. The mental process is still present. But if the overall level of cooperation is higher, the effect is not strong enough to significantly increase contributions. The nudge does not work if the context is too cooperative in the first place.

Suggested Citation

  • Engel, Christoph & Kurschilgen, Michael, 2020. "The Fragility of a Nudge: the power of self-set norms to contain a social dilemma," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:joepsy:v:81:y:2020:i:c:s0167487020300507
    DOI: 10.1016/j.joep.2020.102293
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    Cited by:

    1. Diederich, Johannes & Goeschl, Timo & Waichman, Israel, 2023. "Self-nudging is more ethical, but less efficient than social nudging," Working Papers 0726, University of Heidelberg, Department of Economics.
    2. Michael Kurschilgen, 2023. "Moral awareness polarizes people’s fairness judgments," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 61(2), pages 339-364, August.
    3. Song, Jian & Houser, Daniel, 2021. "Non-exclusive group contests: An experimental analysis," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 87(C).
    4. Diederich, Johannes & Goeschl, Timo & Waichman, Israel, 2022. "Self-Nudging vs. Social Nudging in Social Dilemmas: An Experiment," Working Papers 0710, University of Heidelberg, Department of Economics.
    5. Marta Santos Silva, 2022. "Nudging and Other Behaviourally Based Policies as Enablers for Environmental Sustainability," Laws, MDPI, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, January.
    6. Catola, Marco & D’Alessandro, Simone & Guarnieri, Pietro & Pizziol, Veronica, 2023. "Multilevel public goods game: Levelling up, substitution and crowding-in effects," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    7. Christoph Engel & Rima-Maria Rahal, 2022. "Eye-Tracking as a Method for Legal Research," Discussion Paper Series of the Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods 2022_07, Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods.
    8. Diederich, Johannes & Goeschl, Timo & Waichman, Israel, 2023. "Self-nudging is more ethical, but less efficient than social nudging," VfS Annual Conference 2023 (Regensburg): Growth and the "sociale Frage" 277679, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    9. Soetevent, Adriaan R., 2022. "Short run reference points and long run performance. (No) Evidence from running data," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 89(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Social Dilemma; Identity; Norms; Goals; Experiment; Nudge;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods

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