From the lab to the field: Cooperation among fishermen

Jan Stoop (), Charles Noussair and Daan van Soest

MPRA Paper from University Library of Munich, Germany

Abstract: We conduct a field experiment to measure cooperation among groups of recreational fishermen at a privately owned fishing facility. The parameters are chosen so that group earnings are greater when group members catch fewer fish, as in the Voluntary Contributions Mechanism (VCM). In a manner consistent with classical economic theory, though in contrast to prior results from laboratory experiments, we find no evidence of cooperation. We construct a series of additional treatments to identify causes of the di®erence. We rule out the subject pool and the laboratory setting as potential causes, and identify the type of activity involved as the source of the lack of cooperation in our field experiment. When cooperation requires a reduction in fishing effort, individuals are not cooperative, whether the reduction in fishing translates into more money or into more fishing opportunities for the group.

Keywords: Public Goods Game; Field Experiment; Social Preferences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C72 C92 C93 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010-09-16
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe, nep-exp and nep-soc
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (16)

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Related works:
Journal Article: From the Lab to the Field: Cooperation among Fishermen (2012)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:pra:mprapa:28924

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