Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/70158 
Year of Publication: 
2012
Series/Report no.: 
Jena Economic Research Papers No. 2012,050
Publisher: 
Friedrich Schiller University Jena and Max Planck Institute of Economics, Jena
Abstract: 
We investigate experimentally whether the protégés' reaction to paternalism depends on the consequences of the paternalistic action to their well-being. We find that protégé punish a paternalist restricting their freedom of choice. Yet, this negative reaction is not based on principled grounds because, with hindsight, protégés punish the paternalist only if the restriction makes them worse off. Conversely, if the restriction makes them better off, the protégé on average do not punish and, sometimes, they even reward the paternalist. This suggests that protégés take a consequentialist stand on paternalism. Controlling for intentions ascribed to the patron does not alter our finding.
Subjects: 
paternalism
consequentialism
value of freedom
experiment
JEL: 
C92
D6
P16
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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