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Public goods with high-powered punishment: high cooperation and low efficiency

Author

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  • Terence Burnham

Abstract

A laboratory experiment where human subjects play a repeated public goods game with high-powered punishment technology (50:1). Results on three attributes are similar to lower-powered punishment settings (e.g., 3:1): Subjects contribute almost 100 % to the public good, punishment rates are low (under 10 % of maximum), and punishment is directed more toward low contributors. In contrast to lower-powered punishment settings, however, subjects earn less money than they would have in the same setting without punishment. These results contribute to the debate about the origins and maintenance of cooperation. Copyright The Author(s) 2015

Suggested Citation

  • Terence Burnham, 2015. "Public goods with high-powered punishment: high cooperation and low efficiency," Journal of Bioeconomics, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 173-187, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbioec:v:17:y:2015:i:2:p:173-187
    DOI: 10.1007/s10818-014-9191-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cooperation; Reciprocity; Punishment; Public-goods; Altruism; A13; C72; C91;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior

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