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To join or not to join? The impact of social interactions on local participation decisions

Author

Listed:
  • Rixt Bijker

    (KAW architects)

  • Eveline van Leeuwen

    (Wageningen University & Research)

  • Paul (P.R.) Koster

    (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)

Abstract

This paper investigates how social interactions impact the decision to participate in one’s local environment. Existing work often reports correlations between social interactions and local participation, but it is unclear what the causal direction of this relationship is. A key contribution of this paper is that we are able to estimate the causal effect of social interactions on the decision to participate by systematically varying social attributes in a choice experiment. Based on a large-scale survey in one Dutch municipality we analyze 3894 choice observations of 435 respondents. Our sample includes respondents who currently participate and respondents who do not. We find that at the recruitment stage being asked by a friend or acquaintance significantly increases the chances to volunteer. We also find significant homophily effects in terms of age as well as for the characteristics of the group already participating. Financial incentives have significant negative impacts on the decision to participate.

Suggested Citation

  • Rixt Bijker & Eveline van Leeuwen & Paul (P.R.) Koster, 2019. "To join or not to join? The impact of social interactions on local participation decisions," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 19-003/VIII, Tinbergen Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20190003
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    File URL: https://papers.tinbergen.nl/19003.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Freeman, Richard B, 1997. "Working for Nothing: The Supply of Volunteer Labor," Journal of Labor Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 15(1), pages 140-166, January.
    5. Denzil G. Fiebig & Michael P. Keane & Jordan Louviere & Nada Wasi, 2010. "The Generalized Multinomial Logit Model: Accounting for Scale and Coefficient Heterogeneity," Marketing Science, INFORMS, vol. 29(3), pages 393-421, 05-06.
    6. Dimitropoulos, Alexandros & van Ommeren, Jos N. & Koster, Paul & Rietveld, Piet, 2016. "Not fully charged: Welfare effects of tax incentives for employer-provided electric cars," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 1-19.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Social interactions; Discrete choice experiments; Homophily; Volunteering;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C90 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - General
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification
    • L30 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - General
    • R58 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Regional Government Analysis - - - Regional Development Planning and Policy

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