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Reacting to Unfairness: Group Identity and Dishonest Behavior

Author

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  • Nives Della Valle

    (EURAC Research, Institute for Renewable Energy, G.-Di-Vittorio Strasse/Via G. Di Vittorio 16, 39100 Bolzano/Bozen, Italy)

  • Matteo Ploner

    (CEEL/DEM, University of Trento, Via Inama 5, 38122 Trento, Italy)

Abstract

We experimentally investigate whether individuals are more likely to engage in dishonest behavior after having experienced unfairness perpetrated by an individual with a salient group identity. Two individuals generate an endowment together, but only one can decide how to share it. They either share the same group identity or have distinct group identities. Then, they approach a task in which they can opportunistically engage in dishonest behavior. Our results show that when individuals share the same group identity, unfair distributive decisions do not trigger a dishonest reaction. In contrast, when different group identities coexist, dishonest behavior is observed as a reaction to unfairness.

Suggested Citation

  • Nives Della Valle & Matteo Ploner, 2017. "Reacting to Unfairness: Group Identity and Dishonest Behavior," Games, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jgames:v:8:y:2017:i:3:p:28-:d:104661
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    2. Benistant, Julien & Villeval, Marie Claire, 2019. "Unethical behavior and group identity in contests," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 128-155.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    group identity; fairness; dishonesty;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement

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