Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/129548 
Year of Publication: 
2012
Series/Report no.: 
Working Paper Series No. 13-07
Publisher: 
University of Mannheim, Department of Economics, Mannheim
Abstract: 
Experimental evidence from simple distribution games supports the view that some individuals have a concern for the effciency of allocations. This motive could be important for the implementation of economic policy proposals. In a typical lab experiment, however, individuals have much more information available than outside the lab. We conduct a lab experiment to test whether asymmetric information influences prosocial behavior in a simple non-strategic interaction. In our setting, a dictator has only limited knowledge about the benefits his prosocial action generates for a recipient. We find that a substantial share of subjects behaves proscially and a concern for effciency plays an important role. In our experiment the information asymmetry is actually effciency-enhancing as more subjects behave prosocially than under symmetric information.
JEL: 
D82
C91
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size
711.4 kB





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.