Small-world conservatives and rigid liberals: Attitudes towards sharing in self-proclaimed left and right

Kaj Thomsson and Alexander Vostroknutov

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2017, vol. 135, issue C, 181-192

Abstract: We experimentally explore the way political preferences shape giving behavior. We find no difference in average giving between the Left and the Right in a Dictator game environment. However, we find the reasons for giving to be different. Right-leaning individuals give according to a norm-dependent utility that takes into account the beliefs of the receiver. The behavior of left-leaning individuals is not shaped by such an interaction between norms and beliefs. We conclude that right-wingers choose in accordance with a “small world” view, where giving is shaped by social interaction, while left-wingers appear rigid in their reaction to social context.

Keywords: Experimental economics; Social norms; Liberals; Conservatives; Sharing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C91 C92 D03 D64 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (12)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:135:y:2017:i:c:p:181-192

DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2017.01.023

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