Arbeitspapier
Is increasing inequality harmful? Experimental evidence
Increasing inequality is commonly associated with social unrest and conflict between social classes. This paper reports the results of a laboratory experiment to study the implications of rising inequality on the tendency to burn others' income. The experiment considers an environment where higher earnings are typically associated with higher effort and varies how fair and transparent this relationship is. The findings indicate that increasing inequality does not per se lead to more money burning. Rather, it depends on whether the increase in inequality can be unequivocally attributed to exerted effort. If subjects can tweak the income-generating process in their favor, money burning is substantially higher. Low-income subjects are more likely to burn others' income and most of the money burning is aimed at subjects with higher incomes.
- Sprache
-
Englisch
- Erschienen in
-
Series: WZB Discussion Paper ; No. SP II 2015-209
- Klassifikation
-
Wirtschaft
Noncooperative Games
Design of Experiments: Laboratory, Group Behavior
- Thema
-
inequality
money burning
fairness
- Ereignis
-
Geistige Schöpfung
- (wer)
-
Fehr, Dietmar
- Ereignis
-
Veröffentlichung
- (wer)
-
Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung (WZB)
- (wo)
-
Berlin
- (wann)
-
2015
- Handle
- Letzte Aktualisierung
-
10.03.2025, 11:43 MEZ
Datenpartner
ZBW - Deutsche Zentralbibliothek für Wirtschaftswissenschaften - Leibniz-Informationszentrum Wirtschaft. Bei Fragen zum Objekt wenden Sie sich bitte an den Datenpartner.
Objekttyp
- Arbeitspapier
Beteiligte
- Fehr, Dietmar
- Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung (WZB)
Entstanden
- 2015
Ähnliche Objekte (12)
Does increasing inequality threaten social stability? Evidence from the lab
Increasing inequality and financial instability
Attitudes to Income Inequality: Experimental and Survey Evidence
Is Inequality Harmful for the Environment in a Growing Economy?
Inequality and Trust: Some Inequalities are More Harmful than Others
Industries, Mega Firms, and Increasing Inequality
Gender Inequality and Caste: Field Experimental Evidence from India
Inequality and Trust in Sweden: Some Inequalities are More Harmful than Others
Prior Conviction Evidence: Harmful or Irrelevant? A Literature Review
Bertrand-Edgeworth markets with increasing marginal costs and voluntary trading: Experimental evidence
Misperceiving economic success: Experimental evidence on meritocratic beliefs and inequality acceptance
Misperceiving Economic Success: Experimental Evidence on Meritocratic Beliefs and Inequality Acceptance
Does increasing inequality threaten social stability? Evidence from the lab
Increasing inequality and financial instability
Attitudes to Income Inequality: Experimental and Survey Evidence
Is Inequality Harmful for the Environment in a Growing Economy?
Inequality and Trust: Some Inequalities are More Harmful than Others
Industries, Mega Firms, and Increasing Inequality
Gender Inequality and Caste: Field Experimental Evidence from India
Inequality and Trust in Sweden: Some Inequalities are More Harmful than Others
Prior Conviction Evidence: Harmful or Irrelevant? A Literature Review
Bertrand-Edgeworth markets with increasing marginal costs and voluntary trading: Experimental evidence
Misperceiving economic success: Experimental evidence on meritocratic beliefs and inequality acceptance
Misperceiving Economic Success: Experimental Evidence on Meritocratic Beliefs and Inequality Acceptance
Does increasing inequality threaten social stability? Evidence from the lab
Increasing inequality and financial instability
Attitudes to Income Inequality: Experimental and Survey Evidence
Is Inequality Harmful for the Environment in a Growing Economy?
Inequality and Trust: Some Inequalities are More Harmful than Others
Industries, Mega Firms, and Increasing Inequality
Gender Inequality and Caste: Field Experimental Evidence from India
Inequality and Trust in Sweden: Some Inequalities are More Harmful than Others
Prior Conviction Evidence: Harmful or Irrelevant? A Literature Review
Bertrand-Edgeworth markets with increasing marginal costs and voluntary trading: Experimental evidence
Misperceiving economic success: Experimental evidence on meritocratic beliefs and inequality acceptance