Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/47337 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2008
Series/Report no.: 
Memorandum No. 2008,15
Publisher: 
University of Oslo, Department of Economics, Oslo
Abstract: 
Individuals with a preference for keeping moral obligations may dislike learning that voluntary contributions are socially valuable: Such information can trigger unpleasant feelings of cognitive dissonance. I show that if initial beliefs about the social value of contributions are sufficiently low, duty-oriented consumers are willing to pay to avoid information. Attitude campaigns can increase contributions from such consumers by providing them with unwanted information. Consequentialist warm glow types with low initial beliefs, however, will seek low-cost information on their own initiative; thus, campaigns will have less effects for such consumers.
Subjects: 
Voluntary contributions
public goods
responsibility
altruism
information campaigns
cognitive dissonance
JEL: 
D11
D62
D64
D89
H41
Q21
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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