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Framing and free riding: emotional responses and punishment in social dilemma games

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  • Robin Cubitt
  • Michalis Drouvelis
  • Simon Gächter

Abstract

In this paper, we report an experimental investigation of the effect of framing on social preferences, as revealed in a one-shot linear public goods game. We use two indicators to measure social preferences: self-reported emotional responses; and, as a behavioural indicator of disapproval, punishment. Our findings are that, for a given pattern of contributions, neither punishment nor emotion depends on the Give versus Take framing that we manipulate. To this extent, they suggest that the social preferences we observe are robust to framing effects.
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  • Robin Cubitt & Michalis Drouvelis & Simon Gächter, 2011. "Framing and free riding: emotional responses and punishment in social dilemma games," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 14(2), pages 254-272, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:expeco:v:14:y:2011:i:2:p:254-272
    DOI: 10.1007/s10683-010-9266-0
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Framing effects; Punishment; Emotions; Public goods experiments; C92; D01; H41;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods

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