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In-group favouritism and out-group discrimination in naturally occurring groups

Author

Listed:
  • Kalus Abbink
  • Donna Harris

Abstract

We study in-group favouritism and out-group discrimination in a novel multiplayer dictator game in a naturally occuring setting. An allocator divides a large sum of money among three groups of around 20 recipients each and to Self. The groups are supporters of two rival political movements in Thailand and politically neutral subjects. The non-rival out-group as a reference point allows us to measure in-group favouritism and out-group discrimination. A treatment with artificial groups serves as a control. We find both in-group favouritism and out-group discrimination among the naturally occurring groups. In artificial groups, favouritism is observed, but not discrimination. Our results suggest that the two behaviours are not driven by the same motive, and only when groups are in conflict out-group discrimination is likely to occur.

Suggested Citation

  • Kalus Abbink & Donna Harris, 2019. "In-group favouritism and out-group discrimination in naturally occurring groups," CSAE Working Paper Series 2019-02, Centre for the Study of African Economies, University of Oxford.
    • Handle: RePEc:csa:wpaper:2019-02
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    Cited by:

    1. Barr, Abigail & Lane, Tom & Nosenzo, Daniele, 2018. "On the social inappropriateness of discrimination," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 153-164.
    2. Wubeshet Regasa & Umberto Galmarini & Giuseppe Porro, 2024. "Victim’s identification and social categorization: first- and second-order effects on altruistic behavior," International Review of Economics, Springer;Happiness Economics and Interpersonal Relations (HEIRS), vol. 71(4), pages 959-988, December.
    3. Chikwalila, Eric & Willinger, Marc & Farolfi, Stefano & Mungatana, Eric & Jourdain, Damien, 2023. "The impact of a scholarship programme on social capital formation among university students: An economic experiment at the University of Pretoria, South Africa," African Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, African Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 18(01), April.
    4. Mahsa Akbari & Duman Bahrami‐Rad & Erik O. Kimbrough & Pedro P. Romero & Sadegh Alhosseini, 2020. "An Experimental Study Of Kin And Ethnic Favoritism," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 58(4), pages 1795-1812, October.
    5. Sheng, Yi, 2024. "Social and strategic interactions in experiments," Other publications TiSEM 05c9c6fe-bfde-49e4-9fc4-b, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    6. Schwaiger, Rene & Huber, Jürgen & Kirchler, Michael & Kleinlercher, Daniel & Weitzel, Utz, 2022. "Unequal opportunities, social groups, and redistribution: Evidence from Germany," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    7. Annalena Oppel, 2023. "Communication matters: sensitivity in fairness evaluations across wealth inequality expressions and levels," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2023-86, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).
    8. Lane, Tom, 2024. "The strategic use of social identity," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 355-368.
    9. Shaun P. Hargreaves Heap & Eugenio Levi & Abhijit Ramalingam, 2021. "Group identification and giving: in-group love, out-group hate and their crowding out," MUNI ECON Working Papers 2021-07, Masaryk University, revised Feb 2023.
    10. Artavia-Mora, Luis & Bedi, Arjun S. & Rieger, Matthias, 2018. "Help, Prejudice and Headscarves," IZA Discussion Papers 11460, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    11. Tor Eriksson & Lei Mao & Marie Claire Villeval, 2017. "Saving face and group identity," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 20(3), pages 622-647, September.
    12. Wladislaw Mill & John Morgan, 2022. "The cost of a divided America: an experimental study into destructive behavior," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 25(3), pages 974-1001, June.
    13. Oppel, Annalena, 2021. "Normalizing necessity? Support networks and racial inequality in Namibia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 147(C).
    14. Schütt, Christoph & Pipke, David & Detlefsen, Lena & Grimalda, Gianluca, 2022. "Does ethnic heterogeneity decrease workers' effort in the presence of income redistribution? An experimental analysis," Kiel Working Papers 2228, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    15. Giovanni Di Bartolomeo & Stefano Papa & Alessandra Pelloni, 2025. "Beyond Colors: Communication and Social Identity in Natural Groups," CEIS Research Paper 610, Tor Vergata University, CEIS, revised 10 Sep 2025.
    16. Rene Schwaiger & Jürgen Huber & Michael Kirchler & Daniel Kleinlercher & Utz Weitzel, 2020. "Unequal Opportunities, Social Groups, and Redistribution: Evidence from the General Population," Working Papers 2020-26, Faculty of Economics and Statistics, Universität Innsbruck.
    17. Schütt, Christoph A. & Pipke, David & Detlefsen, Lena & Grimalda, Gianluca, 2023. "Does ethnic heterogeneity decrease workers’ effort in the presence of income redistribution? An experimental analysis," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).
    18. Cetre, Sophie & Algan, Yann & Grimalda, Gianluca & Murtin, Fabrice & Pipke, David & Putterman, Louis & Schmidt, Ulrich & Siegerink, Vincent, 2024. "Ethnic bias, economic achievement and trust between large ethnic groups: A study in Germany and the U.S," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 224(C), pages 996-1021.
    19. Annalena Oppel, 2021. "Exploring economic support networks amidst racial inequality in Namibia," WIDER Working Paper Series wp-2021-102, World Institute for Development Economic Research (UNU-WIDER).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D70 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - General
    • D71 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Social Choice; Clubs; Committees; Associations
    • D73 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Bureaucracy; Administrative Processes in Public Organizations; Corruption
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions

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