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Responsibility to Punish: Discouraging Free-Riders in Public Goods Games.
- Source :
- Atlantic Economic Journal; Dec2008, Vol. 36 Issue 4, p505-518, 14p, 3 Charts, 3 Graphs
- Publication Year :
- 2008
-
Abstract
- This study employs a public goods game in which participants can punish each other for free-riding. This paper examines the motivation for punishment behavior when the situation is such that a rational individual will not punish. This paper predicts and finds evidence for the punishment of free-ridership, even when not punishing is the profit-maximizing strategy. Specifically, this paper finds participants will punish more when designated the sole punisher for a group, than when all group members are allowed to punish. This result implies that those individuals who punish for non-rational reasons often free-ride on each others’ punishment. Accordingly, the study suggests individual responsibility is important for ensuring the strength of institutions aimed at punishing selfish behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 01974254
- Volume :
- 36
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Atlantic Economic Journal
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34940389
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s11293-008-9117-y