Focal points in multiple threshold public goods games: A single-project meta-analysis

Luca Corazzini and Matteo M. Marini
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Tommaso Reggiani ()

MUNI ECON Working Papers from Masaryk University

Abstract: SThis paper is a single-project meta-analysis of four experiments that first model charitable giving as individual contributions to a multiplicity of competing threshold public goods. Given the centrality of the coordination dilemma as the number of recipients increases, we pool 15,936 observations at the individual level for the purpose of identi- fying the most effective focal points, their mechanics, and their implications for donors’ wealth. We find that competition between public goods implies massive coordination problems that originate from fewer contributions and result in lower profits. In this setting, the most powerful coordination device turns out to be the existence of a single contribution option that stands out on its merits. We also observe an inverted U-shaped trend in the successful provision of public goods, offering evidence for experience as a focal point peculiar to the multiple-public-good framework. The effective focal points do not leverage greater contributions to solve the coordination dilemma, yet they generate higher earnings. Finally, delegation proves to be a sound device for reducing the risk of miscoordination as long as the delegate is formally obliged to pass along a high enough percentage of the transferred resources. We discuss possible implications of our findings.

Keywords: meta-analysis; threshold public goods; charitable giving; fundraising; focal points (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C90 C91 C92 H40 H41 L31 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 23 pages
Date: 2022-10, Revised 2023-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:mub:wpaper:2022-10

DOI: 10.5817/WP_MUNI_ECON_2022-10

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