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Will You Accept Without Knowing What? A Thuringian Newspaper Experiment of the Yes-No Game

Author

Listed:
  • Werner Güth

    (Strategiec Interaction Group, Max Planck Institute of Economics, Jena)

  • Oliver Kirchkamp

    (Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, School of Economics and Business Administration)

Abstract

Many economic experiments are run in the laboratory with students as participants. In this paper we use a newspaper experiment to learn more about external validity of lab research. Our workhorse is the Yes-No game. Unlike in ultimatum games responders of the Yes-No games do not know the proposal when deciding between whether to accept it or not. We use two different amounts that can be shared (100 Euro and 1000 Euro). In line with findings for the ultimatum game, offers were fairer and rejections less likely when participants are older and submit their decisisons via mail rather than the Internet. By comparing our results with other studies (using executives or students), we demonstrate, at least for this type of game, the external validity of lab research.

Suggested Citation

  • Werner Güth & Oliver Kirchkamp, 2010. "Will You Accept Without Knowing What? A Thuringian Newspaper Experiment of the Yes-No Game," Jena Economics Research Papers 2010-006, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.
  • Handle: RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2010-006
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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