Destructive behavior in a Fragile Public Good game

Maximilian Hoyer, Nadège Bault, Ben Loerakker and Frans van Winden ()
Additional contact information
Maximilian Hoyer: CREED - Center for Research in Experimental Economics and Political Decision Making - UvA - Universiteit van Amsterdam, Cognitive Science Center Amsterdam - UvA - Universiteit van Amsterdam
Nadège Bault: GATE Lyon Saint-Étienne - Groupe d'Analyse et de Théorie Economique Lyon - Saint-Etienne - ENS de Lyon - École normale supérieure de Lyon - Université de Lyon - UL2 - Université Lumière - Lyon 2 - UCBL - Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 - Université de Lyon - UJM - Université Jean Monnet - Saint-Étienne - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Ben Loerakker: CREED - Center for Research in Experimental Economics and Political Decision Making - UvA - Universiteit van Amsterdam, Cognitive Science Center Amsterdam - UvA - Universiteit van Amsterdam

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Abstract: Socially destructive behavior in a public good environment - like damaging public goods - is an underexposed phenomenon in economics. In an experiment we investigate whether such behavior can be influenced by the very nature of an environment. To that purpose we use a Fragile Public Good (FPG) game which puts the opportunity for destructive behavior (taking) on a level playing field with constructive behavior (contributing). We find substantial evidence of destructive decisions, sometimes leading to sour relationships characterized by persistent hurtful behavior. While positive framing induces fewer destructive decisions, shifting the selfish Nash towards minimal taking doubles its share to more than 20%. Female subjects are found to be more inclined to use destructive decisions. Finally, subjects' social value orientation turns out to be partly predictive of (at least initial) destructive choices.

Keywords: public good; destructive behavior; spite; relationship; laboratory experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014-12-03
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-exp and nep-hpe
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-01090199v1
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Destructive behavior in a Fragile Public Good game (2014)
Working Paper: Destructive Behavior in a Fragile Public Good Game (2014)
Working Paper: Destructive Behavior in a Fragile Public Good Game (2014)
Working Paper: Destructive Behavior in a Fragile Public Good Game (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:wpaper:halshs-01090199

DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2014.02.023

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