When to leave carrots for sticks: On the evolution of sanctioning institutions in open communities

Marina Chugunova, Wolfgang Luhan and Andreas Nicklisch

Economics Letters, 2020, vol. 191, issue C

Abstract: When asked, people dislike punishment institutions, although punishment is more effective than rewards to maintain cooperation in social dilemmas. Which institution do they choose in the long run? We study migration patterns in a laboratory experiment that allows participants to migrate continuously between punishment and reward communities. The majority of participants initially chooses the reward institution, but a substantial number of subjects joins the less profitable punishment community subsequently. In this case, the mere threat of punishment establishes high contributions. Income differences and missing compensations for cooperators in the reward community are the key factors for the decision to migrate.

Keywords: Open communities; Voting with feet; Cooperation; Sanctions; Public goods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C72 C92 H41 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:191:y:2020:i:c:s0165176520301233

DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2020.109155

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