Peer Effects and Social Preferences in Voluntary Cooperation

Christian Thoeni () and Simon Gaechter ()
Additional contact information
Christian Thoeni: University of St.Gallen
Simon Gaechter: University of Nottingham
Authors registered in the RePEc Author Service: Simon Gächter and Christian Thöni

No 2011-09, Discussion Papers from The Centre for Decision Research and Experimental Economics, School of Economics, University of Nottingham

Abstract: Substantial evidence suggests the behavioral relevance of social preferences and also the importance of social influence effects (“peer effects”). Yet, little is known about how peer effects and social preferences are related. In a three-person gift-exchange experiment we find causal evidence for peer effects in voluntary cooperation: agents’ efforts are positively related despite the absence of material payoff interdependencies. We confront this result with major theories of social preferences which predict that efforts are unrelated, or negatively related. Some theories allow for positively-related efforts but cannot explain most observations. Conformism, norm following and considerations of social esteem are candidate explanations.

Keywords: social preferences, voluntary cooperation, peer effects, reflection problem, gift-exchange; conformism; social norms; social esteem (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C92 D03 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011-09
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-evo, nep-exp, nep-hrm, nep-net, nep-soc and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Related works:
Working Paper: Peer Effects and Social Preferences in Voluntary Cooperation (2014)
Working Paper: Peer effects and social preferences in voluntary cooperation (2014)
Working Paper: Peer Effects and Social Preferences in Voluntary Cooperation (2012)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:not:notcdx:2011-09

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