Is the veil of ignorance only a concept about risk? An experiment

Hannah Hörisch
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Hannah Schildberg-Hoerisch ()

Discussion Papers in Economics from University of Munich, Department of Economics

Abstract: We implement the Rawlsian thought experiment of a veil of ignorance in the laboratory which introduces risk and possibly social preferences. We find that both men and women react to the risk introduced by the veil of ignorance. Only the women additionally exhibit social preferences that reflect an increased concern for equality. Our results for women imply that maximin preferences can also be derived from a combination of some, not necessarily infinite risk aversion and social preferences. This result contrasts the Utilitarians' claim that maximin preferences necessarily represent preferences with infinite risk aversion.

Keywords: veil of ignorance; social preferences; equality; efficiency; experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C99 D63 D64 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe and nep-exp
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Is the veil of ignorance only a concept about risk? An experiment (2010)
Working Paper: Is the veil of ignorance only a concept about risk? An experiment (2008)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:lmu:muenec:1362

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