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Pronoun drop and prosocial behavior: experimental evidence from Japan

Author

Listed:
  • Tai-Sen He

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Yohanes E. Riyanto

    (Nanyang Technological University)

  • Saori C. Tanaka

    (Advanced Telecommunication Research Institute International)

  • Katsunori Yamada

    (Kindai University)

Abstract

We join a growing body of literature suggesting that the languages people speak influence their decision-making. We tested whether dropping the first-person pronoun “I” affects pro-social behavior in a dictator game-like setting. To this end, we conducted an online randomized, incentivized experiment with a socially representative sample of 2000 Japanese respondents. We provide compelling causal evidence that pronoun dropping reduces pro-sociality. Given that our results provide little empirical support for previous research findings linking first-person pronoun use and lower pro-sociality, we prescribe caution in using languages as a proxy for culture in several cross-country empirical studies in economics.

Suggested Citation

  • Tai-Sen He & Yohanes E. Riyanto & Saori C. Tanaka & Katsunori Yamada, 2020. "Pronoun drop and prosocial behavior: experimental evidence from Japan," Journal of the Economic Science Association, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 6(1), pages 13-25, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jesaex:v:6:y:2020:i:1:d:10.1007_s40881-020-00083-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s40881-020-00083-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Clist, Paul & Hong, Ying-yi, 2023. "Do international students learn foreign preferences? The interplay of language, identity and assimilation," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Pronoun drop language; Pro-social behavior; Social-value orientation; Incentivized online experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification

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