Are They Watching You and Does It Matter? - Evidence from a Natural Field Experiment
Abstract
In a natural field experiment, we tested whether being alone or in a group had an effect on prosocial behavior as expressed in donations to a recreational park. We also explored whether the presence of people exogenous to the group at the time of the donation had any behavioral effect. Our first treatment aimed at identifying peer effects, whereas our second treatment was similar to being in the public eye. We found that being in a group significantly increases the share of people acting prosocially. Moreover, we found that only individuals who are part of a group are positively affected by the presence of a third party.Download Info
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Paper provided by University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics in its series Working Papers in Economics with number 456.Length: 12 pages
Date of creation: 07 Jul 2010
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:hhs:gunwpe:0456
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Postal: Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, University of Gothenburg, Box 640, SE 405 30 GÖTEBORG, Sweden
Phone: 031-773 10 00
Web page: http://www.handels.gu.se/econ/
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Related research
Keywords: Donation; natural field experiment; prosocial behavior; public disclosure;Find related papers by JEL classification:
- C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
- Q28 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Government Policy
This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:
- NEP-ALL-2010-07-17 (All new papers)
- NEP-CBE-2010-07-17 (Cognitive & Behavioural Economics)
- NEP-EXP-2010-07-17 (Experimental Economics)
- NEP-HPE-2010-07-17 (History & Philosophy of Economics)
- NEP-SOC-2010-07-17 (Social Norms & Social Capital)
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