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The Demand and Supply of Esteem: An experimental analysis

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  • Blacklow, Paul
  • Corman, Amy Beth
  • Sibly, Hugh

Abstract

We use a laboratory experiment to identify some determinants of variation across individuals in the demand and supply of esteem. Some participants can choose, at a cost, buy ‘credits’ so as to appear to others to have a better performance on a real effort task than they really do: this purchase reflects esteem seeking. The provision of esteem, via a partner's feedback on performance, is also recorded. We find: (i) those with a low willingness to supply effort have a lower probability of purchasing credits, (ii) participants matched with low scoring partners buy more credits (iii) feedback is improved for those purchasing credits.

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  • Blacklow, Paul & Corman, Amy Beth & Sibly, Hugh, 2021. "The Demand and Supply of Esteem: An experimental analysis," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:95:y:2021:i:c:s2214804321000999
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2021.101759
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    1. Blacklow, Paul & Corman, Amy Beth & Sibly, Hugh, 2021. "The Demand and Supply of Esteem: An experimental analysis," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 95(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Esteem; Image; Laboratory Experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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