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An Experimental Study of Within- and Cross-cultural Cooperation: Chinese and American Play in the Prisoner’s Dilemma Game

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Kuroda

    (Economic Science Institute, Chapman University)

  • Jieran Li

    (Economic Science Institute, Chapman University)

  • Jason Shachat

    (Durham University and Wuhan University)

  • Lijia Wei

    (Wuhan University)

  • Bochen Zhu

    (Wuhan University)

Abstract

We study whether cross- and within-culture groups have different cooperation rates in the Prisoner’s Dilemma Game. In an experiment, university students in China and America engage in a single iteration of the game, complete belief elicitation tasks regarding their opponents’ play and take a survey including attitudinal measurements regarding their in- and out-group attitudes. Cooperation rates are higher across the two countries are higher in both cross-culture and in within-culture interactions, although not significantly. We also find that Chinese participants cooperate less than American ones. Further, female Chinese participants are more cooperative than Chinese male ones. In the cross-culture treatment, Chinese participants underestimate the likelihood of cooperative behavior of their American counterparts, while Americans overestimate the same likelihood of their Chinese counterparts. Our results also show that Chinese participants cooperate more conditionally than American ones. Finally, while we find some attitudinal in- and out-biases both they do not generate meaningful impact on cooperative behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Kuroda & Jieran Li & Jason Shachat & Lijia Wei & Bochen Zhu, 2021. "An Experimental Study of Within- and Cross-cultural Cooperation: Chinese and American Play in the Prisoner’s Dilemma Game," Working Papers 21-14, Chapman University, Economic Science Institute.
  • Handle: RePEc:chu:wpaper:21-14
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    File URL: https://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/esi_working_papers/351/
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cross-culture; Prisoner’s Dilemma; Cooperation; Experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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