The Role of Heterogeneity and the Dynamics of Voluntary Contributions to Public Goods: An Experimental and Agent-Based Simulation Analysis

Engi Amin (), Mohamed Abouelela () and Amal Soliman ()
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Engi Amin: http://feps.edu.eg/en/departments/social/staff/Engi.php
Mohamed Abouelela: http://feps.edu.eg/en/departments/social/staff/Mohamed.php
Amal Soliman: http://feps.edu.eg/en/departments/social/staff/AmlSoliman.php

Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, 2018, vol. 21, issue 1, 3

Abstract: This paper examines the role of heterogeneous agents in the study of voluntary contributions to public goods. A human-subject experiment was conducted to classify agent types and determine their effects on contribution levels. Data from the experiment was used to build and calibrate an agent-based simulation model. The simulations display how different compositions of agent preference types affect the contribution levels. Findings indicate that the heterogeneity of cooperative preferences is an important determinant of a population’s contribution pattern.

Keywords: Agent-Based Simulation; Cooperation; Public Goods Game; Laboratory Experiment; Social Preferences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018-01-31
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:jas:jasssj:2016-106-4

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