Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/63040 
Year of Publication: 
2007
Series/Report no.: 
Memorandum No. 2007,16
Publisher: 
University of Oslo, Department of Economics, Oslo
Abstract: 
Several studies have demonstrated that individual contributions to public goods are increasing in others’ contributions. The underlying causes for this, however, are not yet fully understood. We present a model of duty-orientation in which moral responsibility is learned through observations of others’ behavior. Since, in our model, responsibility is a burden, we hypothesize that individuals will be reluctant to accept responsibility based on uncertain information. Econometric analysis of data from a survey on households’ glass recycling indicates that perceived responsibility is a major determinant for reported recycling; that responsibility ascription is influenced by beliefs about others’ behavior; and that people are indeed reluctant to accept responsibility based on uncertain information.
Subjects: 
Voluntary contributions
duty-orientation
recycling
joint FIML estimation
JEL: 
D11
D12
D64
Q53
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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