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Interest-Based Negotiation over Natural Resources: Experimental Evidence from Liberia

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Listed:
  • Darin Christensen
  • Alexandra C Hartman
  • Cyrus Samii
  • Alessandro Toppeta

Abstract

We experimentally evaluate whether an interest-based negotiation training for community leaders in Liberia improves their ability to strike beneficial deals related to their land and forests. We use environmental assessments, lab-in-the-field, and surveys and find that trainees are 27% more likely to reach a beneficial agreement, and it raises the total surplus earned by $2.74 USD, which is a 42% increase. Our exploration of mechanisms indicates that the training increases trainees’ capacity to identify valuable deals, but does not improve their appraisal of their outside option. We find a reduction (0.27 standard deviations) in the exploitation of communal forestland in treated communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Darin Christensen & Alexandra C Hartman & Cyrus Samii & Alessandro Toppeta, 2026. "Interest-Based Negotiation over Natural Resources: Experimental Evidence from Liberia," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 24(3), pages 976-996.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:jeurec:v:24:y:2026:i:3:p:976-996.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/jeea/jvaf047
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