Self-serving dictators

Abstract

This paper provides experimental evidence for self-serving choice of fairness ideals, in a dictator game design where funds can be transferred in two ways to the one player and in one way to the other. Two methods for transferring funds to the recipient produce the same results as the regular dictator game. However, two methods for transferring funds to the allocator reduce her generosity significantly. Hence, the allocator’s fairness ideal is equal share per individual in the former case (as in the regular dictator game), while her ideal is equal share per transfer method in the latter case.

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By Geir B. Asheim, Bjørn Hoyland, Leif Helland, Jon Hovi
Published Mar. 23, 2015 11:20 AM - Last modified Nov. 20, 2017 3:23 PM