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The Misaddressed Letter Experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Leigh, Gweneth

    (Independent Researcher)

  • Leigh, Andrew

    (Parliament of Australia)

Abstract

We design a new field experiment to test pro-social behaviour: will a household return a letter that has been incorrectly addressed? On average, we find that half of all letters were returned. Return rates do not vary significantly according to the gender, race or ethnicity of the fictitious addressee. However, return rates are higher in more affluent neighbourhoods.

Suggested Citation

  • Leigh, Gweneth & Leigh, Andrew, 2018. "The Misaddressed Letter Experiment," IZA Discussion Papers 11315, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp11315
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jo Holland & Antonio S Silva & Ruth Mace, 2012. "Lost Letter Measure of Variation in Altruistic Behaviour in 20 Neighbourhoods," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(8), pages 1-4, August.
    2. Fessler, Daniel M.T., 2009. "Return of the lost letter: Experimental framing does not enhance altruism in an everyday context," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 71(2), pages 575-578, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    discrimination; field experiments; altruism;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers

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