Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/236731 
Year of Publication: 
2021
Series/Report no.: 
EconPol Working Paper No. 64
Publisher: 
ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, Munich
Abstract: 
We conduct a large-scale survey experiment in nine European countries to study how priming a major crisis (COVID-19), common economic interests, and a shared identity influences altruism, reciprocity and trust of EU citizens. We find that priming the COVID-19 pandemic increases altruism and reciprocity towards compatriots, citizens of other EU countries, and non-EU citizens. Priming common European values also boosts altruism and reciprocity but only towards compatriots and fellow Europeans.Priming common economic interests has no tangible impact on behaviour. Trust in others is not affected by any treatment. Our results are consistent with the parochial altruism hypothesis, which asserts that because altruism arises out of inter-group conflict, humans show a tendency to favor members of their own groups.
Subjects: 
COVID-19
Europe
altruism
reciprocity
survey experiment
JEL: 
D72
H51
H53
H55
O52
P52
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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