Feedback and cooperation: An Experiment in sorting behavior

Noémi Berlin (noemi.berlin@parisnanterre.fr), Mamadou Gueye (mamadgueye@icloud.com) and Stéphanie Monjon
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Noémi Berlin: EconomiX - EconomiX - UPN - Université Paris Nanterre - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Mamadou Gueye: CSTB - Centre Scientifique et Technique du Bâtiment
Stéphanie Monjon: LEDa - Laboratoire d'Economie de Dauphine - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - Université Paris Dauphine-PSL - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, LEDA-CGEMP - Centre de Géopolitique de l’Energie et des Matières Premières - LEDa - Laboratoire d'Economie de Dauphine - IRD - Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - Université Paris Dauphine-PSL - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, CEC - Chaire Economie du Climat - Université Paris Dauphine-PSL - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres

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Abstract: In this paper, we use a laboratory experiment to analyze the effect of information provision (feedback) on individual sorting behavior. Effective sorting requires both quantity and quality, yet increasing quantity may reduce quality due to the higher risk of contamination. We conduct a collective sorting behavior experiment consisting of a two-stage coordination game in which two subjects are paired and then individually decide whether or not to participate in a collective sorting task. The performance achieved depends on the quantity and quality of sorting, and the payoff depends on the decision and performance of both subjects in the task. Information about the subject's own past performance, and information about the partner's past performance, are included as feedback treatments. Using a between-subjects experimental design, we find that the feedback type has very different effects on participation, performance and coordination (defined as both subjects succeeding in the sorting task). Only feedback about one's own performance leads to better performance and more coordination. Although this experiment is not contextualized, the results provide useful pointers for waste sorting policies.

Keywords: Experiment; sorting task; Cooperation; Informational feedback (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025-04
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Published in Ecological Economics, 2025, 230, pp.108505. ⟨10.1016/j.ecolecon.2024.108505⟩

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04882271

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2024.108505

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