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Free-Riding and the Provision of Public Goods in the Family: A Laboratory Experiment

Elizabeth Peters (), A. Sinan Ünür (), Jeremy Clark and William D. Schulze

International Economic Review, 2004, vol. 45, issue 1, 283-299

Abstract: We examine the provision of family public goods using experimental economics methods. With sufficient altruism and shared resource arrangements, families can provide the efficient level of family public goods. Becker's Rotten Kid Theorem asserts that transfers from altruistic parents will induce children to maximize family income even if children are not altruistic toward other family members. Consistent with altruism, parents and children contributed more to a public good when in groups with family members than when in groups with strangers. In contrast to the predictions of the Rotten Kid Theorem, however, children's behavior fell short of maximizing family income. Copyright 2004 by the Economics Department Of The University Of Pennsylvania And Osaka University Institute Of Social And Economic Research Association.

Date: 2004
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International Economic Review is currently edited by Harold L. Cole

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