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Doing good with other people’s money: A charitable giving experiment with students in environmental sciences and economics

Author

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  • Carlsson, Fredrik

    (Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University)

  • Kataria, Mitesh

    (Max Planck Institute of Economics, Strategic Interaction Group)

  • Lampi, Elina

    (Department of Economics, School of Business, Economics and Law, Göteborg University)

  • Levati, M., Vittoria

    (Max Planck Institute of Economics, Strategic Interaction Group)

Abstract

We augment a standard dictator game to investigate how preferences for an environmental project relate to willingness to limit others’ choices. We explore this issue by distinguishing three student groups: economists, environmental economists, and environmental social scientists. We find that people are generally disposed to grant freedom of choice, but only within certain limits. In addition, our results are in line with the widely held belief that economists are more selfish than other people. Yet, against the notion of consumer sovereignty, economists are not less likely to restrict others’ choices and impose restrictions closer to their own preferences than the other student groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Carlsson, Fredrik & Kataria, Mitesh & Lampi, Elina & Levati, M., Vittoria, 2011. "Doing good with other people’s money: A charitable giving experiment with students in environmental sciences and economics," Working Papers in Economics 487, University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:gunwpe:0487
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/2077/24287
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    Cited by:

    1. Lohse, Johannes, 2015. "Cooperation at a discount - Will I give away your money?," VfS Annual Conference 2015 (Muenster): Economic Development - Theory and Policy 113151, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    2. Kesternich, Martin & Löschel, Andreas & Römer, Daniel, 2016. "The long-term impact of matching and rebate subsidies when public goods are impure: Field experimental evidence from the carbon offsetting market," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 70-78.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    dictator game; charitable giving; social preferences; freedom of choice;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers

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