Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/180478 
Year of Publication: 
2018
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 11460
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
This paper employs a natural field experiment in the Netherlands to test whether individuals intuitively help strangers with different group identities. We implement time manipulations in an everyday task to stimulate intuitive versus deliberate decision-making and thereafter examine helpfulness towards a female stranger with in-group (native) or out-group (Muslim) appearance. We find that time delay decreases helping rates. In contrast, regardless of time manipulation, out-group appearance does not influence helping rates. Overall, subjects are intuitively predisposed to help, independent of identity. We discuss our findings with respect to the literature on in-group favoritism and the cognitive origins of human cooperation.
Subjects: 
help
cooperation
in-group favoritism
Muslim
dual-process of cognition
natural field experiment
The Netherlands
JEL: 
D03
D63
D64
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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