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Identity and Economic Incentives

Author

Listed:
  • Kwabena Donkor

    (Stanford GSB)

  • Lorenz Goette

    (National University of Singapore)

  • Maximilian Müller

    (Toulouse School of Economics)

  • Eugen Dimant

    (University of Pennsylvania)

  • Michael Kurschilgen

    (Uni Distance Suisse)

Abstract

This paper examines how beliefs and preferences drive identity-conforming consumption or investments. We introduce a theory that explains how identity distorts individuals' beliefs about potential outcomes and imposes psychic costs on benefiting from identity-incongruent sources. We substantiate our theoretical foundation through two lab-in-field experiments on soccer betting in Kenya and the UK, where participants either had established affiliations with the teams involved or assumed a neutral stance. The results indicate that soccer fans have overoptimistic beliefs about match outcomes that align with their identity and bet significantly higher amounts on those than on outcomes of comparable games where they are neutral. After accounting for individuals' beliefs and risk preferences, our structural estimates reveal that participants undervalue gains from identity-incongruent assets by 9% to 27%. Our counterfactual simulations imply that identity-specific beliefs account for 30% to 44% of the investment differences between neutral observers and supporters, with the remainder being due to identity preferences.

Suggested Citation

  • Kwabena Donkor & Lorenz Goette & Maximilian Müller & Eugen Dimant & Michael Kurschilgen, 2023. "Identity and Economic Incentives," ECONtribute Discussion Papers Series 269, University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Germany.
    • Handle: RePEc:ajk:ajkdps:269
    as

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    File URL: https://www.econtribute.de/RePEc/ajk/ajkdps/ECONtribute_269_2023.pdf
    File Function: First version, 2023
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kossuth, Lajos & Powdthavee, Nattavudh & Harris, Donna & Chater, Nick, 2020. "Does it pay to bet on your favourite to win? Evidence on experienced utility from the 2018 FIFA World Cup experiment," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 35-58.
    2. Christian Deutscher & Eugen Dimant & Brad R. Humphreys & Adam Nowak, 2025. "Match Fixing and Sports Betting in Football: Empirical Evidence from the German Bundesliga," Public Finance Review, , vol. 53(5), pages 600-627, September.
    3. Shana Kushner Gadarian & Sara Wallace Goodman & Thomas B Pepinsky, 2021. "Partisanship, health behavior, and policy attitudes in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(4), pages 1-13, April.
    4. Lorenz Goette & David Huffman & Stephan Meier & Matthias Sutter, 2012. "Competition Between Organizational Groups: Its Impact on Altruistic and Antisocial Motivations," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 58(5), pages 948-960, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Diego Marino Fages, 2024. "Motivated Forecasts: Experimental Evidence from the Presidential Elections in Argentina," Discussion Papers 2024-08, The Centre for Decision Research and Experimental Economics, School of Economics, University of Nottingham.
    2. Adam Brandenburger & Paolo Ghirardato & Daniele Pennesi & Lorenzo Stanca, 2024. "Event Valence and Subjective Probability," Carlo Alberto Notebooks 717 JEL Classification: D, Collegio Carlo Alberto.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • G41 - Financial Economics - - Behavioral Finance - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making in Financial Markets
    • Z10 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - General

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