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Cycles of conditional cooperation in a real-time voluntary contribution mechanism

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  • M. Vittoria Levati

    (Max Planck Institute of Economics, Jena)

  • Ro'i Zultan

    (The Center for Rationality, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

Abstract

This paper provides a new way to identify conditional cooperation in a real-time version of the standard voluntary contribution mechanism. Our approach avoids most drawbacks of the traditional procedures because it relies on endogenous cycle lengths, which are defined by the number of contributors a player waits before committing to a further contribution. Based on hypothetical distributions of randomly generated contribution sequences, we provide strong evidence for conditionally cooperative behavior. Moreover, notwithstanding a decline in contributions, conditional cooperation is found to be stable over time.

Suggested Citation

  • M. Vittoria Levati & Ro'i Zultan, 2009. "Cycles of conditional cooperation in a real-time voluntary contribution mechanism," Jena Economics Research Papers 2009-029, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.
    • Handle: RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2009-029
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Fischbacher, Urs & Gächter, Simon & Quercia, Simone, 2012. "The behavioral validity of the strategy method in public good experiments," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 897-913.
    2. Vyrastekova, Jana & Funaki, Yukihiko, 2018. "Cooperation in a sequential dilemma game: How much transparency is good for cooperation?," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 88-95.
    3. Eva-Maria Steiger & Ro'i Zultan, 2011. "See No Evil: Information Chains and Reciprocity in Teams," Jena Economics Research Papers 2011-040, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.
    4. Steiger, Eva-Maria & Zultan, Ro'i, 2014. "See no evil: Information chains and reciprocity," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 1-12.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Public goods game; Real-time protocol; Information feedback; Conditional cooperation; Simulations;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods

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