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Children's heterogeneity in cooperation and parental background: An experimental study

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  • Sutter, Matthias
  • Untertrifaller, Anna

Abstract

We study the determinants of cooperation by letting children, aged 4–5, and their parents play an experimental prisoner's dilemma game. We examine whether children's cooperation depends on symmetric payoffs of mutual cooperation and how it is related to parental socioeconomic background and parents’ own cooperation behavior. We find that asymmetric payoffs do not hinder cooperation. Children cooperate more often when parents have higher education. Parents’ and children's cooperation rates are positively aligned. Children of parents with lower education have miscalibrated beliefs about others’ cooperation. Overall, our findings support the notion of a socioeconomic gradient of prosociality.

Suggested Citation

  • Sutter, Matthias & Untertrifaller, Anna, 2020. "Children's heterogeneity in cooperation and parental background: An experimental study," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 286-296.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:171:y:2020:i:c:p:286-296
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2020.01.010
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    Cited by:

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    2. Zvonimir Bašić & Parampreet C. Bindra & Daniela Glätzle-Rützler & Angelo Romano & Matthias Sutter & Claudia Zoller, 2021. "The Roots of Cooperation," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 097, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    3. Sund, Oda Kristine Storstad, 2023. "Unleveling the Playing Field? Experimental Evidence on Parents’ Willingness to Give Their Child an Advantage," Discussion Paper Series in Economics 21/2023, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Economics.
    4. Thijs Brouwer & Fabio Galeotti & Marie Claire Villeval, 2023. "Teaching Norms: Direct Evidence of Parental Transmission," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 133(650), pages 872-887.
    5. María I Rivera-Hechem & Carlos Rodríguez-Sickert & Ricardo A Guzmán & Tadeo Ramírez-Parada & Felipe Benavides & Víctor Landaeta-Torres & Mauricio Aspé-Sánchez & Gabriela M Repetto, 2020. "No association between genetic variants in MAOA, OXTR, and AVPR1a and cooperative strategies," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(12), pages 1-17, December.
    6. Li, Xun & Qiu, Yu, 2021. "Are more children better than one? Evidence from a lab experiment of decision making," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 69(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cooperation; Prisoner Dilemma game; Children's behavior; Family background; Socioeconomic gradient; Experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior

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