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An Experimental Evaluation of Weakest Link/Best Shot Models of Public Goods

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Author Info
Harrison, Glenn W
Hirshleifer, Jack

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Abstract

In the supply of public goods, far less free riding actually occurs than traditional theory predicts. As one explanation, the social composition function, which aggregates individual contributions into an available social total, may not always take the standard summation form. Theoretical considerations indicate that free riding should be least for a social composition function of the weakest-link type but greatest for the best-shot type. Using a sequential protocol, the authors' experiments strongly confirm theoretical anticipations under all three types of social composition functions. Even under the more onerous sealed-bid (simultaneous play ) protocol, the experimental subjects are able to make some partial progress toward the theoretical ideal. Copyright 1989 by University of Chicago Press.

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Publisher Info
Article provided by University of Chicago Press in its journal Journal of Political Economy.

Volume (Year): 97 (1989)
Issue (Month): 1 (February)
Pages: 201-25
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Handle: RePEc:ucp:jpolec:v:97:y:1989:i:1:p:201-25

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References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
  1. Groves, Theodore & Ledyard, John O, 1977. "Optimal Allocation of Public Goods: A Solution to the "Free Rider" Problem," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 45(4), pages 783-809, May. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
    Other versions:
  2. Isaac, R. Mark & McCue, Kenneth F. & Plott, Charles R., . "Public Goods Provision in an Experimental Environment," Working Papers 428, California Institute of Technology, Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  3. Ferejohn, John A. & Forsythe, Robert & Noll, Roger G. & Palfrey, Thomas R., . "An Experimental Examination of Auction Mechanisms for Discrete Public Goods," Working Papers 262, California Institute of Technology, Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences. [Downloadable!]
  4. Bohm, Peter, 1972. "Estimating demand for public goods: An experiment," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 3(2), pages 111-130. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  5. Palfrey, Thomas R. & Rosenthal, Howard, 1984. "Participation and the provision of discrete public goods: a strategic analysis," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 171-193, July. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  6. Green, Jerry & Laffont, Jean-Jacques, 1977. "Characterization of Satisfactory Mechanisms for the Revelation of Preferences for Public Goods," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 45(2), pages 427-38, March. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  7. Marwell, Gerald & Ames, Ruth E., 1981. "Economists free ride, does anyone else? : Experiments on the provision of public goods, IV," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 15(3), pages 295-310, June. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  8. Bliss, Christopher & Nalebuff, Barry, 1984. "Dragon-slaying and ballroom dancing: The private supply of a public good," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 25(1-2), pages 1-12, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  9. Smith, Vernon L, 1979. " An Experimental Comparison of Three Public Good Decision Mechanisms," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 81(2), pages 198-215.
  10. Peter Bohm, 1984. "Revealing Demand for an Actual Public Good," Framed Field Experiments 0011, The Field Experiments Website. [Downloadable!]
  11. Bohm, Peter, 1984. "Revealing demand for an actual public good," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 135-151, July. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  12. Schneider, Friedrich & Pommerehne, Werner W, 1981. "Free Riding and Collective Action: An Experiment in Public Microeconomics," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, MIT Press, vol. 96(4), pages 689-704, November. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  13. Banks, Jeffrey S. & Plott, Charles R. & Porter, David P., . "An Experimental Analysis of Public Goods Provision Mechanisms with and without Unanimity," Working Papers 595, California Institute of Technology, Division of the Humanities and Social Sciences. [Downloadable!]
  14. Lipnowski, Irwin & Maital, Shlomo, 1983. "Voluntary provision of a pure public good as the game of `chicken'," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(3), pages 381-386, April. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
  15. Smith, Vernon L, 1977. "The Principle of Unanimity and Voluntary Consent in Social Choice," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 85(6), pages 1125-39, December. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
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