More than Words: Communication in Intergroup Conflicts

Andreas Leibbrandt and Lauri Sääksvuori

No 2010-065, Jena Economics Research Papers from Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena

Abstract: Numerous studies suggest that communication may be a universal means to mitigate collective action problems. In this study, we challenge this view and show that the communication structure crucially determines whether communication mitigates or intensifies the problem of collective action. We observe the effect of different communication structures on collective action in the context of finitely repeated intergroup conflict and demonstrate that conflict expenditures are significantly higher if communication is restricted to one's own group as compared to a situation with no communication. However, expenditures are significantly lower if open communication within one's own group and between rivaling groups is allowed. We show that under open communication intergroup conflicts are avoided by groups taking turns in winning the contest. Our results do not only qualify the role of communication for collective action but may also provide insights on how to mitigate the destructive nature of intergroup conflicts.

Keywords: Communication; Conflict; Experiment; Rent-seeking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C72 C91 C92 D72 D74 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-09-27
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-cdm and nep-exp
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:jrp:jrpwrp:2010-065

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