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Promises & Partnership

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Author Info
Charness, Gary () (University of California at Santa Barbara)
Dufwenberg, Martin () (Dept. of Economics, Stockholm University)

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Abstract

We examine, experimentally and theoretically, how communication within a partnership may mitigate the problem (highlighted in contract theory) of hidden action. What is the form and content of the communication? Which model of decision-making can capture the impact of communication? We consider free-form communication, measure beliefs (about actions and beliefs), and examine which motivational forces influence subjects. We find they harbor belief-dependent preferences that can be captured using psychological game theory. In particular, agents are influenced by guilt aversion, which suggests a theory of why and how communication influences behavior in which statements of intent and resulting expectations play a special role. This has bearing on how to understand partnerships and contracts.

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Publisher Info
Paper provided by Stockholm University, Department of Economics in its series Research Papers in Economics with number 2003:3.

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Length: 46 pages
Date of creation: 13 Feb 2003
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:hhs:sunrpe:2003_0003

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Postal: Department of Economics, Stockholm, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
Phone: +46 8 16 20 00
Fax: +46 8 16 14 25
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Web page: http://www.ne.su.se/
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Related research
Keywords: Promises; partnership; contract theory; behavioral economics; hidden action; moral hazard; lies; social preferences; psychological game theory; guilt aversion; reciprocity; fairness;

Other versions of this item:

Find related papers by JEL classification:
A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
B49 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology - - - Other
C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism
J41 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - Labor Contracts

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References listed on IDEAS
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Full references

Cited by:
(explanations, 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. Sebastian Kranz, 2006. "Moral Norms in a Partly Compliant Society," Levine's Bibliography 321307000000000092, UCLA Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  2. José Apesteguia & Martin Dufwenberg & Reinhard Selten, 2003. "Blowing the Whistle," Bonn Econ Discussion Papers bgse9_2003, University of Bonn, Germany. [Downloadable!]
    Other versions:
  3. Olivier Armantier & Nicolas Treich, 2006. "Overbidding in Independant Private-Values Auctions and Misperception of Probabilities," CIRANO Working Papers 2006s-15, CIRANO. [Downloadable!]
  4. Holm, Håkan & Daielson, Anders, 2004. "Fairness and Promises for Sale," Working Papers 2004:18, Lund University, Department of Economics, revised 15 Aug 2005. [Downloadable!]
  5. Martin Dufwenberg & Werner Gueth, 2001. "The Psychological Game of Trust," Papers on Strategic Interaction 2004-19, Max Planck Institute of Economics, Strategic Interaction Group. [Downloadable!]
  6. Heike Hennig-Schmidt & Zhu-Yu Li & Chaoliang Yang, 2004. "Why People Reject Advantageous Offers – Non-monotone Strategies in Ultimatum Bargaining," Bonn Econ Discussion Papers bgse22_2004, University of Bonn, Germany. [Downloadable!]
  7. Michele Belot, & V. Bhaskar & Jeroen van de Ven, 2006. "A Public Dilemma: Cooperation with Large Stakes and a Large Audience," Economics Discussion Papers 617, University of Essex, Department of Economics. [Downloadable!]
  8. Werner Güth & René Levínský & Tobias Uske & Thomas Gehrig, 2006. "I want to know: Willingness to pay for unconditional veto power," Papers on Strategic Interaction 2006-21, Max Planck Institute of Economics, Strategic Interaction Group. [Downloadable!]
  9. Topi Miettinen, 2006. "Promises and Conventions - An Approach to Pre-play Agreements," Papers on Strategic Interaction 2006-29, Max Planck Institute of Economics, Strategic Interaction Group. [Downloadable!]
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