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Disclosing personal information on behalf of others: An experimental study

Author

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  • Wang, Minda
  • Li, Jianbiao
  • Niu, Xiaofei
  • Wang, Wenhua

Abstract

People often decide whether to risk the privacy of others on behalf of others, and the benefit of disclosing personal information could be in the form of money or time. Do people differ in their willingness to disclose their own personal information and to disclose the personal information of others, and what is the stated price of disclosure, measured in time rather than money? In controlled experiments, we elicit participants' willingness to disclose others' personal information when they make these decisions for others. We also compare the monetary and time rewards for giving up privacy. The results show that participants report higher prices when they make decisions on behalf of others than when they do so for themselves, and this discrepancy is robust regardless of whether the reward is money or time. It appears that people are more concerned about the privacy of others than they are about their own privacy and demand greater compensation for disclosing personal information when the benefit of the exchange is time rather than money.

Suggested Citation

  • Wang, Minda & Li, Jianbiao & Niu, Xiaofei & Wang, Wenhua, 2025. "Disclosing personal information on behalf of others: An experimental study," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:chieco:v:91:y:2025:i:c:s1043951x25000598
    DOI: 10.1016/j.chieco.2025.102401
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty
    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior

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