Motives for Giving: A Reanalysis of Two Classic Public Goods Experiments Academic Article

abstract

• Experimental work in economics prompted the development of theories of other-regarding behavior. In this article we reanalyze two classic public goods experiments and focus on the nature of individuals' responses to others' behavior in order to help distinguish alternative motives for giving, including altruism, warm glow, reciprocity, and inequality aversion. Analysis that allows for asymmetric feedback responses generates support for inequality aversion motives but little for reciprocity (matching), altruism, and warm glow. We conclude that individual-level analysis of existing public goods data can provide more insightful, informative estimates of treatment effects.

authors

• Eckel, Catherine

published proceedings

• SOUTHERN ECONOMIC JOURNAL

author list (cited authors)

• Ashley, R., Ball, S., & Eckel, C.

citation count

• 52

complete list of authors

• Ashley, Richard||Ball, Sheryl||Eckel, Catherine

publication date

• July 2010

publisher

• Wiley  Publisher

published in

• SOUTHERN ECONOMIC JOURNAL  Journal

keywords

• 10 Reduced Inequalities
• Behavioral And Social Science

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.4284/sej.2010.77.1.15

start page

• 15

end page

• 26

volume

• 77

issue

• 1

URL

• http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.4284%2Fsej.2010.77.1.15

user-defined tag

• 10 Reduced Inequalities