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Self-reliance crowds out group cooperation and increases wealth inequality

Author

Listed:
  • Jörg Gross

    (Leiden University)

  • Sonja Veistola

    (Leiden University)

  • Carsten K. W. Dreu

    (Leiden University
    University of Amsterdam)

  • Eric Dijk

    (Leiden University)

Abstract

Humans establish public goods to provide for shared needs like safety or healthcare. Yet, public goods rely on cooperation which can break down because of free-riding incentives. Previous research extensively investigated how groups solve this free-rider problem but ignored another challenge to public goods provision. Namely, some individuals do not need public goods to solve the problems they share with others. We investigate how such self-reliance influences cooperation by confronting groups in a laboratory experiment with a safety problem that could be solved either cooperatively or individually. We show that self-reliance leads to a decline in cooperation. Moreover, asymmetries in self-reliance undermine social welfare and increase wealth inequality between group members. Less dependent group members often choose to solve the shared problem individually, while more dependent members frequently fail to solve the problem, leaving them increasingly poor. While self-reliance circumvents the free-rider problem, it complicates the governing of the commons.

Suggested Citation

  • Jörg Gross & Sonja Veistola & Carsten K. W. Dreu & Eric Dijk, 2020. "Self-reliance crowds out group cooperation and increases wealth inequality," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:11:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-020-18896-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18896-6
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    Cited by:

    1. Gross, Jörg & De Dreu, Carsten K.W. & Reddmann, Lennart, 2022. "Shadow of conflict: How past conflict influences group cooperation and the use of punishment," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    2. Mirre Stallen & Luuk L. Snijder & Jörg Gross & Leon P. Hilbert & Carsten K. W. Dreu, 2023. "Partner choice and cooperation in social dilemmas can increase resource inequality," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Jun Qian & Tongda Zhang & Xiao Sun & Yueting Chai, 2023. "The coordination of collective and individual solutions in risk-resistant scenarios," The European Physical Journal B: Condensed Matter and Complex Systems, Springer;EDP Sciences, vol. 96(2), pages 1-15, February.

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