Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/104250
Year of Publication: 
2007
Series/Report no.: 
Munich Discussion Paper No. 2007-4
Publisher: 
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Volkswirtschaftliche Fakultät, München
Abstract: 
We implement the Rawlsian thought experiment of a veil of ignorance in the laboratory which introduces risk and possibly social preferences. We find that both men and women react to the risk introduced by the veil of ignorance. Only the women additionally exhibit social preferences that reflect an increased concern for equality. Our results for women imply that maximin preferences can also be derived from a combination of some, not necessarily infinite risk aversion and social preferences. This result contrasts the Utilitarians' claim that maximin preferences necessarily represent preferences with infinite risk aversion.
Subjects: 
veil of ignorance
social preferences
equality
efficiency
experiment
JEL: 
D63
D64
C99
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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