Multidimensional Group Identity and Redistributive Allocation: An Experimental Study

Fuhai Hong, Yohanes Riyanto and Ruike Zhang
Additional contact information
Fuhai Hong: Division of Economics, Nanyang Technological University, 14 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637332.
Ruike Zhang: Division of Economics, Nanyang Technological University, 14 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637332.

No 1701, Economic Growth Centre Working Paper Series from Nanyang Technological University, School of Social Sciences, Economic Growth Centre

Abstract: Social identity is embedded in social structures, generated by various social processes, and has multiple dimensions. We report ?ndings from a laboratory experiment eliciting two-dimensional social identities: a horizontal identity determined either randomly or by preferences and a vertical identity de?ned by income status and determined either by luck or performance. We also vary income gaps between vertical identity groups. Participants make redistributive allocation decisions between two others di¤ering in identity attributes. We ?nd robust evidence of in-group favoritism and that both the identity distance between the allocator and the in-group recipient and income gaps in?uence the degree of in-group favoritism.

Keywords: Social Identities; Horizontal and Vertical Identity Attributes; In-group Favoritism; Income Inequality (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C91 D03 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 43 pages
Date: 2016-12
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-cdm, nep-exp, nep-sea, nep-soc and nep-ure
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www3.ntu.edu.sg/hss2/egc/wp/2017/2017-01.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nan:wpaper:1701

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Economic Growth Centre Working Paper Series from Nanyang Technological University, School of Social Sciences, Economic Growth Centre Contact information at EDIRC.
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Magdalene Lim ().