Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/77502 
Year of Publication: 
2011
Series/Report no.: 
Working Paper No. 50
Publisher: 
University of Zurich, Department of Economics, Zurich
Abstract: 
Extensive research in economics explores generosity in monetary allocations, while generosity in non-laboratory contexts often involves the allocation of consumption goods or non-monetary harm. Psychological evidence suggests that generosity may be higher in such contexts. We compare generosity in decisions that vary whether allocations are monetary or non-monetary, and whether they involve utility gains or losses. In two experiments, generosity is higher in nonmonetary contexts. Thus, the typical monetary laboratory Dictator game may underestimate generosity in many non-laboratory contexts. We find a weak relationship between individuals' allocation decisions in monetary and nonmonetary contexts, but a strong relationship within monetary contexts.
Subjects: 
altruism
generosity
harm
experiment
JEL: 
D03
D64
C91
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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