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Self-Serving Use of Equity Rules in Bargaining with Asymmetric Outside Options

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  • Irlenbusch, Bernd
  • Hennig-Schmidt, Heike
  • Rilke, Rainer
  • Walkowitz, Gari

Abstract

We experimentally investigate the relevance of (asymmetric) outside options in ultimatum bargaining. Building on the generalized equity principle formulated by Selten (1978) we derive three di erent equity rules. These equity rules can explain 43% of all o ers. Our within-subject design allows us to show that proposers apply the equity rules in a self-serving manner, i.e., proposers tend to follow the rules that suggest the highest payo for them. This tendency leads to high ine ciencies due to frequent rejections.

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  • Irlenbusch, Bernd & Hennig-Schmidt, Heike & Rilke, Rainer & Walkowitz, Gari, 2013. "Self-Serving Use of Equity Rules in Bargaining with Asymmetric Outside Options," VfS Annual Conference 2013 (Duesseldorf): Competition Policy and Regulation in a Global Economic Order 79975, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    • Handle: RePEc:zbw:vfsc13:79975
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    Cited by:

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    2. Heike Hennig-Schmidt & Gari Walkowitz, 2015. "Negotiations among Chinese and Germans - An Experimental Case Study," Cologne Graduate School Working Paper Series 06-01, Cologne Graduate School in Management, Economics and Social Sciences.
    3. Bejarano, Hernán & Corgnet, Brice & Gómez-Miñambres, Joaquín, 2021. "Economic stability promotes gift-exchange in the workplace," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 374-398.
    4. Anbarci, Nejat & Feltovich, Nick, 2018. "How fully do people exploit their bargaining position? The effects of bargaining institution and the 50–50 norm," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 145(C), pages 320-334.
    5. Felix Kölle & Dirk Sliwka & Nannan Zhou, 2016. "Heterogeneity, inequity aversion, and group performance," Social Choice and Welfare, Springer;The Society for Social Choice and Welfare, vol. 46(2), pages 263-286, February.
    6. Marja-Liisa Halko & Topi Miettinen, 2017. "From ideals to deals—The effect of impartiality experience on stakeholder behavior," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(8), pages 1-16, August.
    7. Mago, Shakun D. & Pate, Jennifer & Razzolini, Laura, 2024. "Experimental evidence on the role of outside obligations in wage negotiations," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 219(C), pages 528-548.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C78 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Bargaining Theory; Matching Theory
    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement

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