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Reciprocity and Veto Power in Relation-Specific Investments: An Experimental Study

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  • Kaiming Zheng

    (School of Management and Economics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China)

  • Xiaoyuan Wang

    (School of Management and Economics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China)

  • Debing Ni

    (School of Management and Economics, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China)

  • Yang Yang

    (Lingnan (University) College, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China)

Abstract

Relation-specific investments are usually associated with great risk. Investors, afraid of being held up, are likely to invest too little, endangering both financial and organizational sustainability. Theory suggests that relation-specific investment decisions are mainly affected by potential ex-post bargaining, while experimental evidence shows social-preference-driven thinking affects both investors’ and investees’ behavior. We decompose an experimental hold-up game to identify the effect of reciprocity and the effect of veto power on investees’ transfers. In addition, we investigate the effects of corresponding information disclosures on investors’ performance as possible behavioral remedies to the hold-up problem. We find strong evidence of the effect of reciprocity and reciprocity-related information significantly lower investors’ suboptimal investment. Investors underestimate the effect of reciprocity without related information disclosure. In contrast, we find little evidence of the effect of ex-post veto power on investment decisions. Our results imply that reciprocity-related information disclosure is helpful in promoting both financial and organizational sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaiming Zheng & Xiaoyuan Wang & Debing Ni & Yang Yang, 2020. "Reciprocity and Veto Power in Relation-Specific Investments: An Experimental Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-19, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:10:p:4027-:d:358340
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    Cited by:

    1. Zheng, Kaiming & Wang, Xiaoyuan & Ni, Debing, 2021. "Reciprocity information and wage personalization," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    2. Yadi Yang, 2021. "A Survey Of The Hold‐Up Problem In The Experimental Economics Literature," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(1), pages 227-249, February.
    3. Yang, Yadi, 2021. "Experiments on the hold-up problem and delegation," Other publications TiSEM b564ed18-ab0b-4eb1-8188-3, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.

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