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Responsibility and prosocial behavior - Experimental evidence on charitable donations by individuals and group representatives

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  • Dannenberg, Astrid
  • Martinsson, Peter

Abstract

In this paper we present a lab-in-the-field experiment with a large and diverse sample to compare charitable donations when individuals decide for themselves only and when they decide as a group representative. In contrast to the previous literature, we find that individuals make greater charitable contributions when they decide as a group representative than when they decide alone. This result demonstrates that being responsible for a group does not always lead to more selfish behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Dannenberg, Astrid & Martinsson, Peter, 2021. "Responsibility and prosocial behavior - Experimental evidence on charitable donations by individuals and group representatives," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:90:y:2021:i:c:s2214804320306868
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2020.101643
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Fukutomi, Masao & Ito, Nobuyuki & Mitani, Yohei, 2022. "How Group Size and Decision Rules Impact Risk Preferences: Comparing group and individual settings in lottery-choice experiments," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    2. Baudier, Patricia & Kondrateva, Galina & Ammi, Chantal, 2023. "Can blockchain enhance motivation to donate: The moderating impact of religion on donors' behavior in the USA's charity organizations," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Charitable giving; prosociality; group representative; experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General

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