Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/193380 
Year of Publication: 
2019
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 12086
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
In a laboratory experiment we test the interaction effects of status and group identity on interpersonal trust. Natural group identity is generated by school affiliation. Status (expert or agent) is awarded based on relative performance in a math quiz that is ex ante less favorable to the subjects from one group. We find that "promoted" trustors (individuals from the disadvantaged group that nevertheless achieve the status of expert) trust less both in-group and out-group trustees, compared to the other members of their group. Rather than playing against the effects of natural group identity, status promotion singles-out individuals. In contrast, trustworthiness is not affected by status and there is no evidence that interacting with promoted individuals impacts trust or trustworthiness.
Subjects: 
trust
status
group identity
social mobility
experiment
JEL: 
C92
D91
J62
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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