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

Dean Karlan and Margaret A. McConnell

No 17737, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

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 find 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.

JEL-codes: H0 J01 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012-01
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-exp and nep-soc
Note: LS PE
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

Published as Karlan, Dean & McConnell, Margaret A., 2014. "Hey look at me: The effect of giving circles on giving," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 402-412.

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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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