Varying experimental instructions to improve comprehension: Punishment in public goods games

Abhijit Ramalingam, Antonio Morales () and James Walker

Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), 2018, vol. 73, issue C, 66-73

Abstract: We provide evidence that more explicit instructions can affect behaviour in a public goods game with punishment. Instructions that highlight the positive externality associated with public goods contributions and provide more examples improve subjects’ comprehension levels, as measured by shorter decision times in the experiment. They also lead to higher contribution levels in games with punishment opportunities, linked to better targeting of punishment.

Keywords: Public goods; Experiment; Instructions; Contributions; Punishment; Methodology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C72 C91 C92 H41 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:soceco:v:73:y:2018:i:c:p:66-73

DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2018.01.008

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