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The effect of identifiability on the relationship between risk attitudes and other-regarding concerns

Author

Listed:
  • Anastasios Koukoumelis

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

  • M. Vittoria Levati

    (Max Planck Institute of Economics, Strategic Interaction Group, Jena, and DSE, University of Verona)

  • Matteo Ploner

    (Department of Economics, University of Trento)

Abstract

Previous studies have shown that other-regarding concerns are weakened under risky situations. Daily experience also suggests that people care more about an identifiable than about an unidentifiable third person. We report on an experiment designed to explore whether rendering the other identifiable-via a speechless video and the revelation of personal information-affects the relationship between other-regarding concerns and risk preferences when there is risk to one's own and/or the other's payoff. We find that the acquisition of information about the other has no effect on behavior. Regardless of the treatment, most of the participants are other-regarding with respect to expected payoff but self-oriented with respect to risk allocation.

Suggested Citation

  • Anastasios Koukoumelis & M. Vittoria Levati & Matteo Ploner, 2013. "The effect of identifiability on the relationship between risk attitudes and other-regarding concerns," Jena Economics Research Papers 2013-028, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.
    • Handle: RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2013-028
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    File URL: https://oweb.b67.uni-jena.de/Papers/jerp2013/wp_2013_028.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Alexia Gaudeul, 2013. "Social preferences under uncertainty," Jena Economics Research Papers 2013-024, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Risk attitudes; Other-regarding concerns; Identifiability;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • D81 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty

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