Hey Look at Me: The Effect of Giving Circles on Giving

Dean Karlan and Margaret McConnell

No 121670, Center Discussion Papers from Yale University, Economic Growth Center

Abstract: Theories abound for why individuals give to charity. We conduct a field experiment with donors to a Yale University service club to test the impact of a promise of public recognition on giving. Some may claim that they respond to an offer of public recognition not to improve their social standing, but rather to motivate others to give. To tease apart these two theories, we conduct a laboratory experiment with undergraduates, and found no evidence to support the alternative, altruistic motivation. We conclude that charitable gifts increase in response to the promise of public recognition primarily because of individuals' desire to improve their social image.

Keywords: Financial Economics; Public Economics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 18
Date: 2012-01
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Hey look at me: The effect of giving circles on giving (2014)
Working Paper: Hey Look at Me: The Effect of Giving Circles on Giving (2012)
Working Paper: Hey Look at Me: The Effect of Giving Circles on Giving (2012)
Working Paper: Hey Look at Me: The Effect of Giving Circles on Giving (2012)
Working Paper: Hey Look at Me: The Effect of Giving Circles on Giving (2012)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:yaleeg:121670

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.121670

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