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Moving on up: The impact of income mobility on antisocial behaviour

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  • Lata Gangadharan
  • Philip J. Grossman
  • Joe Vecci

Abstract

While the causes for upward income mobility have received considerable attention, the behavioural impact of the prospect of mobility has been largely overlooked. Using a survey and experiment, we investigate if the prospect of mobility influences antisocial behaviour. In our experiment, low- and high-income participants make decisions in an investment game in which, at a cost, they can reduce others’ payoff. A unique feature of the experiment is that lowincome participants can move up the income distribution, via chance or effort. Results show that immobility fuels antisocial behaviour, in particular towards high-income participants

Suggested Citation

  • Lata Gangadharan & Philip J. Grossman & Joe Vecci, 2019. "Moving on up: The impact of income mobility on antisocial behaviour," Monash Economics Working Papers 13-18, Monash University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:mos:moswps:2018-13
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Income inequality; Prospect of upward mobility; Antisocial behaviour; Experiment; Survey.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D6 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics

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