Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/262104 
Year of Publication: 
2022
Series/Report no.: 
ECONtribute Discussion Paper No. 160
Publisher: 
University of Bonn and University of Cologne, Reinhard Selten Institute (RSI), Bonn and Cologne
Abstract: 
Frequently, one person's success comes at the expense of others. We contrast such zero-sum environments in which individuals' payoffs are interdependent to those where payoffs are independent. In a laboratory experiment, we study whether the resulting inequality is perceived differently and how this affects redistribution. Across treatments, we compare a spectator's redistribution of two workers' earnings. If workers do not compete in a zero-sum setting, average redistribution decreases. In a representative survey, we replicate this finding and document that individuals who believe in a zero-sum world support higher levels of redistribution and are more likely to be Democrats.
Subjects: 
Redistribution
Fairness
Zero-sum
Social preferences
Lab experiment
JEL: 
C91
D31
D63
H23
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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