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

Dean Karlan and Margaret McConnell

No 8785, CEPR Discussion Papers from C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers

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: Experiments; Prosocial behavior; Social image; Voluntary contributions (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C90 D64 L30 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-soc
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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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