Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/36001 
Year of Publication: 
2009
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 4303
Publisher: 
Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
Economic and social interaction takes place between individuals with heterogeneous characteristics. We investigate experimentally the emergence and informal enforcement of different contribution norms to a public good in homogeneous and different heterogeneous groups. When punishment is not allowed all groups converge towards free-riding. With punishment, contributions increase and differ distinctly across groups and individuals with different induced characteristics. We show econometrically that these differences are not accidental but enforced by punishment. The enforced contribution norms are related to fairness ideas of equity regarding contribution possibilities but not regarding earnings. Individuals with different characteristics tacitly agree on the norm to be enforced, even if this leads to large payoff differences. Our results also emphasize the role of details of the environment that may alter focal contribution norms in an important way.
Subjects: 
Public good
heterogeneous groups
punishment
cooperation
social norms
norm enforcement
JEL: 
H41
C92
Z13
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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