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Social Class and (Un)Ethical Behaviour: Causal and Correlational Evidence

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  • Elisabeth Gsottbauer
  • Daniel Müller
  • Samuel Müller
  • Stefan T Trautmann
  • Galina Zudenkova

Abstract

Are individuals of higher socio-economic status less ethical than those of lower status? Highly popularised research findings claim that this is the case. This paper provides evidence against this claim, based on data from two large survey experiments with more than 11,000 participants. We prime social status in two heterogeneous samples of the German population and then elicit ethical behaviour in an incentivised experimental task. Thus, our data allows us to study both correlation (using demographic data) and causality (using the priming). Our study rejects the claim that higher social status individuals are less ethical on both accounts.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisabeth Gsottbauer & Daniel Müller & Samuel Müller & Stefan T Trautmann & Galina Zudenkova, 2022. "Social Class and (Un)Ethical Behaviour: Causal and Correlational Evidence," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 132(647), pages 2392-2411.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:econjl:v:132:y:2022:i:647:p:2392-2411.
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    1. Martin Korndörfer & Boris Egloff & Stefan C Schmukle, 2015. "A Large Scale Test of the Effect of Social Class on Prosocial Behavior," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 10(7), pages 1-48, July.
    2. Daniel Müller & Sander Renes, 2021. "Fairness views and political preferences: evidence from a large and heterogeneous sample," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 56(4), pages 679-711, May.
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    4. Toke Reinholt Fosgaard, 2020. "Students Cheat More: Comparing the Dishonesty of a Student Sample and a Representative Sample in the Laboratory," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 122(1), pages 257-279, January.
    5. Martin Korndörfer & Boris Egloff & Stefan C. Schmukle, 2015. "A Large Scale Test of the Effect of Social Class on Prosocial Behavior," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 808, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
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    8. Trautmann, Stefan T. & van de Kuilen, Gijs & Zeckhauser, Richard J., 2013. "Social Class and Un(ethical) Behavior: A Framework, with Evidence from a Large Population Sample," Working Paper Series rwp13-004, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Anatolia Batruch & Nicolas Sommet & Frédérique Autin, 2025. "Advancing the psychology of social class with large-scale replications in four countries," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 9(11), pages 2382-2403, November.
    3. Necker, Sarah & Paetzel, Fabian, 2023. "The effect of losing and winning on cheating and effort in repeated competitions," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    4. Le Maux, Benoît & Necker, Sarah, 2023. "Honesty nudges: Effect varies with content but not with timing," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 433-456.
    5. Stefan T. Trautmann, 2023. "Procedural fairness and equality of opportunity," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(5), pages 1697-1714, December.
    6. Jin Di Zheng & Arthur Schram & Tianle Song, 2024. "Correction to: Social status and prosocial behavior," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 27(2), pages 489-489, April.
    7. Cao, Qian & Li, Jianbiao & Niu, Xiaofei & Zhu, Chengkang, 2025. "Power distance and dishonest behavior," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 230(C).
    8. Wang, Wenhua & Chen, Peikun & Li, Jianbiao & Niu, Xiaofei, 2024. "Institutional quarantine and dishonest behavior," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    9. Zhang, Yanan & Li, Jianbiao & Cao, Qian & Niu, Xiaofei, 2024. "Institutional quarantine and economic preferences: Experimental evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).

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