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Solving the second-order free rider problem in a public goods game: An experiment using a leader support system

Author

Listed:
  • Hiroki Ozono

    (Faculty of Law, Economics and Humanities, Kagoshima University)

  • Nobuhito Jin

    (School of Psychology Practices, College of Integrated Human and Social Welfare Studies, Shukutoku University)

  • Motoki Watabe

    (School of Business, MonashUniversity, Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan)

  • Kazumi Shimizu

    (School of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University)

Abstract

To study the collective action problem, researchers have investigated public goods games (PGG), in which each member decides to contribute to a common pool that returns benefits to all members equally. Punishment of non-cooperators—free riders—can lead to high cooperation in PGG. However, the existence of second-order free riders, who do not pay punishment costs, reduces the effectiveness of punishment. We focus on a “leader support system,” in which one group leader can freely punish group followers using capital pooled through the support of group followers. In our experiment, participants were asked to engage in three stages: a PGG stage in which followers decided to cooperate for their group; a support stage in which followers decided whether to support the leader or not; and a punishment stage in which the leader could punish any follower. We found both higher cooperation and higher support for a leader achieved under linkage-type leaders—who punished both non-cooperators and non-supporters. In addition, linkage-type leaders themselves earned higher profits than other leader types because they withdrew more support. This means that a leader who effectively punishes followers could increase their own benefits and the second-order free rider problem would be solved.

Suggested Citation

  • Hiroki Ozono & Nobuhito Jin & Motoki Watabe & Kazumi Shimizu, 2016. "Solving the second-order free rider problem in a public goods game: An experiment using a leader support system," Working Papers 1604, Waseda University, Faculty of Political Science and Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:wap:wpaper:1604
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Karl Sigmund & Hannelore De Silva & Arne Traulsen & Christoph Hauert, 2010. "Social learning promotes institutions for governing the commons," Nature, Nature, vol. 466(7308), pages 861-863, August.
    2. Nikiforakis, Nikos, 2008. "Punishment and counter-punishment in public good games: Can we really govern ourselves," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(1-2), pages 91-112, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hiroki Ozono & Yoshio Kamijo & Kazumi Shimizu, 2019. "The function of peer reward and punishment in localized society: We can only “Think locally, Act locally”," Working Papers 1912, Waseda University, Faculty of Political Science and Economics.
    2. Zhang, Xiaoyang & Chen, Tong & Chen, Qiao & Li, Xueya, 2020. "Will you cooperate in case the payoff can be guaranteed?," Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    3. Lim Wooyoung & Zhang Jipeng, 2020. "Endogenous Authority and Enforcement in Public Goods Games," The B.E. Journal of Theoretical Economics, De Gruyter, vol. 20(2), pages 1-22, June.
    4. Alventosa, Adriana & Antonioni, Alberto & Hernández, Penélope, 2021. "Pool punishment in public goods games: How do sanctioners’ incentives affect us?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 513-537.
    5. Hiroki Ozono & Yoshio Kamijo & Kazumi Shimizu, 2017. "Does the order of punishment matter? A comparison of pool punishment systems," Working Papers 1707, Waseda University, Faculty of Political Science and Economics.
    6. Shahin Davoudpour, 2024. "Superficial Allies: The Role of Legal Inclusion and Social Obedience in Stigma Processes," Sociological Research Online, , vol. 29(1), pages 101-119, March.
    7. Billinger, Stephan & Rosenbaum, Stephen Mark, 2023. "On the limits of hierarchy in public goods games: A survey and meta-analysis on the effects of design variables on cooperation," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 107(C).

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