Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/25731 
Year of Publication: 
2008
Series/Report no.: 
Jena Economic Research Papers No. 2008,046
Publisher: 
Friedrich Schiller University Jena and Max Planck Institute of Economics, Jena
Abstract: 
In-group favoritism in social dilemma situations is one of the main findings of studies in Social Identity Theory. We investigate what causes the in-group bias: is it due to mere group affiliation or, alternatively, is guilt-aversion a possible explanation? We induce group membership in a minimal group setting, observe in-/out-group transfers and elicit re- spective beliefs. We find that mere group affiliation affects beliefs and explains a substantial part of the bias, but we also find evidence in favor of guilt-aversion as a source of motivation.
Subjects: 
Social preferences
experiments
social dilemma
group identity
guilt aversion
JEL: 
C72
D01
C91
C92
D84
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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