Social Interaction in Responsibility Ascription: The Case of Household Recycling

Kjell Arne Brekke, Gorm Kipperberg () and Karine Nyborg

Land Economics, 2010, vol. 86, issue 4

Abstract: Duty-orientation implies a warm glow of giving as well as a cold shiver of not giving enough. If duty-oriented consumers learn their moral responsibility by observing others’ behavior, social interaction in contribution behavior arises. However, since moral responsibility is a burden, duty-oriented consumers may be less willing to accept responsibility if their information about others’ behavior is uncertain. Data from a survey on households’ glass recycling indicates that perceived responsibility is a major determinant for reported recycling, that responsibility ascription is influenced by beliefs about others’ behavior, and that people are, indeed, reluctant to accept responsibility based on uncertain information.

JEL-codes: D64 Q53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (73)

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