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Heterogeneous Returns and Group Formations in the Public Goods Game

Author

Listed:
  • Elena Molis

    (Department of Economic Theory and Economic History, University of Granada.)

  • Levent Neyse

    (Kiel Institute for the World Economy)

  • Raul Peña-Fernandez

    (University of Granada)

Abstract

In a public goods game, it is usually assumed that people only consider their private returns when contributing to public goods. However, individuals in a same society may benefit from a public project differently. As a result, their willingness to contribute may vary. We experimentally analyze individuals contribution behavior in a repeated public goods game, where participants are categorized in two types, low or high, according with the returns they derive from the public good. In our design we consider different group formations, homogeneous and heterogeneous. All the members of a homogeneous group benefit from the public good equally, while in a heterogeneous group, the return levels are not equally distributed among the members. We show that the dif- ferences in contributions between the two types of players are larger in heterogeneously formed groups than the homogeneous ones, although the contribution differences are insignificant on ag- gregate level. These results underline the social aspect of public good provision and suggest that aggregation may misleadingly cover heterogeneities in the societies.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Molis & Levent Neyse & Raul Peña-Fernandez, 2016. "Heterogeneous Returns and Group Formations in the Public Goods Game," ThE Papers 16/02, Department of Economic Theory and Economic History of the University of Granada..
  • Handle: RePEc:gra:wpaper:16/02
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    File URL: http://www.ugr.es/~teoriahe/RePEc/gra/wpaper/thepapers16_02.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    11. Kölle, Felix, 2015. "Heterogeneity and cooperation: The role of capability and valuation on public goods provision," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 120-134.
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    Cited by:

    1. Barr, Abigail & Owens, Trudy & Perera, Ashira, 2020. "Collective management of an environmental threat when exposure is heterogeneous – A complementary methods approach," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Public Goods; Heterogeneity; Group Effects; Marginal per Capita Returns;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • D80 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - General

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