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The Patron Game: the Individual Provision of a Public Good

Author

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  • Antonio Filippin

    (Department of Economics, Management and Quantitative Methods, University of Milan, Via Conservatorio 7, 20122 Milano, Italy)

  • Manuela Raimondi

    (Department of Economics and Management, University of Parma, Via Kennedy 6, 43121 Parma, Italy)

Abstract

The Patron Game studies the individual provision of a public good, i.e., a situation in which the cost of contributing exceeds by construction its private return (e.g., volunteering, Open Collaboration projects). We test the Patron Game in the lab finding that contributions are high, though significantly lower than in a classic Public Good Game. Results show that demand effects and the warm glow of giving account almost entirely for the contributions, with the former playing the most prominent role. The social nature of the individual provision of a public good is confirmed by the fact that, even when the efficiency multiplier is removed, contributions are higher than in comparable Dictator Games.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio Filippin & Manuela Raimondi, 2018. "The Patron Game: the Individual Provision of a Public Good," Games, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-20, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jgames:v:9:y:2018:i:2:p:35-:d:151599
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    open collaboration; public good; demand effects; impure altruism; ; C9; D64; H41;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C9 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods

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