Understanding the nature of cooperation variability

TY - JOUR

T1 - Understanding the nature of cooperation variability

AU - Fosgaard, Toke Reinholt

AU - Hansen, Lars Gårn

AU - Wengström, Erik Roland

PY - 2014/12/1

Y1 - 2014/12/1

N2 - Our paper investigates framing effects in a large-scale public good experiment. We measure indicators of explanations previously proposed in the literature, which when combined with the large sample, enable us to estimate a structural model of framing effects. The model captures potential causal effects and the heterogeneity of cooperation behavior. We find that framing only has a small effect on the average level of cooperation but a substantial effect on behavioral heterogeneity explained almost exclusively by a corresponding change in the heterogeneity of beliefs about other subjects' behavior. The impact of changes in preferences and game form misperception is on the other hand negligible.

AB - Our paper investigates framing effects in a large-scale public good experiment. We measure indicators of explanations previously proposed in the literature, which when combined with the large sample, enable us to estimate a structural model of framing effects. The model captures potential causal effects and the heterogeneity of cooperation behavior. We find that framing only has a small effect on the average level of cooperation but a substantial effect on behavioral heterogeneity explained almost exclusively by a corresponding change in the heterogeneity of beliefs about other subjects' behavior. The impact of changes in preferences and game form misperception is on the other hand negligible.

U2 - 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2014.09.004

DO - 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2014.09.004

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0047-2727

VL - 120

SP - 134

EP - 143

JO - Journal of Public Economics

JF - Journal of Public Economics

ER -