Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/267017 
Year of Publication: 
2022
Series/Report no.: 
Working Paper No. 353
Publisher: 
University of California, Department of Economics, Davis, CA
Abstract: 
This paper deploys a novel experiment to compare four theories that explain both selfish and non-selfish cooperation. The four theories capture incomplete information (à la Kreps et al. (1982)) alongside the following four non-selfish motives: caring about others (Altruism), being conscientious about cooperation (Duty), enjoying social-efficiency (Efficiency-Seeking), and reciprocity (Sequential Reciprocity). Our experimental design varies the decline-rate of future rewards, under which these theories make contrasting predictions. We find that Efficiency-Seeking is the other-regarding behavior that fits the experimental data best. A Finite Mixture Model analysis finds that 40-49% of our subjects are selfish, 36-45% are Efficiency-seeking, 1-4% are Duty players, and 6-20% are Altruistic.
Subjects: 
Experimental Economics
Finitely Repeated Prisoner's Dilemma
Behavioral game theory
JEL: 
C72
C73
C92
Document Type: 
Working Paper

Files in This Item:
File
Size





Items in EconStor are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.