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Rent extraction and prosocial behavior

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  • Cagala, Tobias
  • Glogowsky, Ulrich
  • Grimm, Veronika
  • Rincke, Johannes
  • Tuset-Cueva, Amanda

Abstract

We present controlled experimental evidence on how rent extraction by an administrator affects giving to non-profit associations. Holding the price of giving constant, we compare contributions between two conditions: a rent extraction condition, in which an administrator can expropriate a part of the contributions and a control condition without rent extraction. We find that rent extraction strongly reduces average contributions. Studying the channels through which this effect operates, we demonstrate that rent extraction has situational spillovers, suggesting that it undermines the contributors' general preference for giving. In contrast, we do not find evidence for negative reciprocity towards the administrator. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Suggested Citation

  • Cagala, Tobias & Glogowsky, Ulrich & Grimm, Veronika & Rincke, Johannes & Tuset-Cueva, Amanda, 2019. "Rent extraction and prosocial behavior," Munich Reprints in Economics 78221, University of Munich, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:lmu:muenar:78221
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    Cited by:

    1. Markussen, Thomas & Sharma, Smriti & Singhal, Saurabh & Tarp, Finn, 2021. "Inequality, institutions and cooperation," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D02 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Institutions: Design, Formation, Operations, and Impact
    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods

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