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The Dynamics of Dictator Behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Markus Sass
  • Florian Timme
  • Joachim Weimann

Abstract

Choosing between selfish and non-selfish behavior in real life is a repeated decision with var-ying time spans between repetitions. To learn more about the dynamics of altruistic behavior, we use repeated standard dictator experiments. The dynamics of prosocial behavior in these experiments depends on the strength of several effects that influence gift giving in experiments of this kind. In particular, we investigate how social distance influences behavior in repeated dictator experiments and what kinds of behavioral dynamics are covered by a social norm. Fur-thermore, we vary the number of repetitions of the dictator game and the length of the time span between the repetitions (from two hours up to two weeks). We identify the moral self-licensing effect as an important determinant of the behavioral dynamics in repeated dictator games and show that this is covered by a social norm.

Suggested Citation

  • Markus Sass & Florian Timme & Joachim Weimann, 2015. "The Dynamics of Dictator Behavior," CESifo Working Paper Series 5348, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_5348
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Gallier, Carlo & Reif, Christiane & Römer, Daniel, 2017. "Repeated pro-social behavior in the presence of economic interventions," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 18-28.
    3. Weimann Joachim, 2015. "Die Rolle von Verhaltensökonomik und experimenteller Forschung in Wirtschaftswissenschaft und Politikberatung," Perspektiven der Wirtschaftspolitik, De Gruyter, vol. 16(3), pages 231-252, October.
    4. Alt, Marius & Gallier, Carlo, 2022. "Incentives and intertemporal behavioral spillovers: A two-period experiment on charitable giving," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 200(C), pages 959-972.
    5. Chao Yang & Yanli Wang & Yuhui Wang & Xuemeng Zhang & Yong Liu & Hong Chen, 2020. "The Effect of Sense of Community Responsibility on Residents’ Altruistic Behavior: Evidence from the Dictator Game," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-10, January.
    6. Markus Sass & Florian Timme & Joachim Weimann, 2018. "Cooperation of Pairs," Games, MDPI, vol. 9(3), pages 1-34, September.
    7. Alt, Marius & Gallier, Carlo, 2021. "Incentives and intertemporal behavioral spillovers: A two-period experiment on charitable giving," ZEW Discussion Papers 21-010, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research.
    8. Markus Sass & Joachim Weimann, 2015. "The Peculiar Power of Pairs," CESifo Working Paper Series 5246, CESifo.
    9. Jacobs Martin, 2016. "Accounting for Changing Tastes: Approaches to Explaining Unstable Individual Preferences," Review of Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 67(2), pages 121-183, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    dictator game; image effect; repeated experiments; dynamics of behavior; moral self-licensing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • C73 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Stochastic and Dynamic Games; Evolutionary Games

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