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The rationale of in-group favoritism: An experimental test of three explanations

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  • Ciccarone, Giuseppe
  • Di Bartolomeo, Giovanni
  • Papa, Stefano

Abstract

We aim to empirically investigate the rationale of in-group-favoritism. As potential explanations, we concentrate on intrinsic preferences for own-group members and motivations related to individuals caring about the beliefs of others (founded on guilt aversion). We also consider their intersection. Our evidence shows that in-group-favoritism cannot be accounted for by changes in expectations. This suggests that preferences per se are the most powerful explanation of social identity.

Suggested Citation

  • Ciccarone, Giuseppe & Di Bartolomeo, Giovanni & Papa, Stefano, 2020. "The rationale of in-group favoritism: An experimental test of three explanations," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 554-568.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:gamebe:v:124:y:2020:i:c:p:554-568
    DOI: 10.1016/j.geb.2020.09.007
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    Cited by:

    1. Gary Charness & Giovanni Di Bartolomeo & Stefano Papa, 2022. "A stranger in a strange land: Promises and identity," Working Papers in Public Economics 221, University of Rome La Sapienza, Department of Economics and Law.
    2. Daniela Grieco, 2022. "What Economists Can Learn from “The Power of Us: Harnessing Our Shared Identities for Personal and Collective Success” by Jay J. Van Bavel and Dominick J. Packer," Games, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-3, March.
    3. Mathieu Lefebvre & Lucie Martin-Bonnel de Longchamp, 2022. "Knowledge acquisition or incentive to foster coordination? A real-effort weak-link experiment with craftsmen," Journal of Behavioral Economics for Policy, Society for the Advancement of Behavioral Economics (SABE), vol. 6(S1), pages 93-107, July.
    4. Attanasi, Giuseppe & Rimbaud, Claire & Villeval, Marie Claire, 2023. "Guilt aversion in (new) games: Does partners' payoff vulnerability matter?," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 690-717.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Social identity; In-group-favoritism; Second-order beliefs; Guilt aversion; Causation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General

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