Contribution Norms in Heterogeneous Groups: A Climate Change Framing

Zoe Van der Hoven (), Martine Visser and Kerri Brick ()
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Kerri Brick: SALDRU, School of Economics, University of Cape Town

No 77, SALDRU Working Papers from Southern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit, University of Cape Town

Abstract: While results from public good games with homogeneous players reflect the contribution norm of equal contributions, it is unclear what contribution norm will arise in a heterogeneous setting. Climate change is a perfect example of a social dilemma involving heterogeneous agents. As such, using a public good game with a climate change framing, this study examines what contribution norm arises when players are asymmetric in terms of their impact on the public good (mitigation). The climate change framing exacerbates equity considerations and ultimately increases the difficulty of finding a generalizable concept of fairness (contribution norm) acceptable to both player-types. The efficacy of communication as a means to promoting public good provision is also considered. The default contribution norm, irrespective of player-type, was to free-ride. With the introduction of communication, two dominant contribution norms emerge: free-riding and perfect cooperation.

Keywords: public good; contribution norm; communication; heterogeneity; climate change (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: H41 Q54 Q58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 27 pages
Date: 2012
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ene, nep-env, nep-evo and nep-gth
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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