Arbeitspapier

Indenture as a Commitment Device in Self-Enforced Contracts: An Experimental Test

How can a principal (an agent) ensure that an agent (a principal) will work (pay up), if payment (work) precedes work (payment)? When a banknote is torn in two, each part is by itself worthless. A principal can pre-commit to payment-on-delivery, by tearing a banknote and giving the agent the first half as "prepayment"; the agent receives the completing half upon delivery of the service. This contract design is known as "indenture". It is self-enforcing and incentive-compatible. This paper experimentally tests the efficacy of the "indenture game" and its implications for cooperation in oneshot environments. We find that cooperation rates are high and stable over time. Its efficacy is moderated by expected losses due to the existence of uncooperative types.

Language
Englisch

Bibliographic citation
Series: Discussion Paper ; No. 241

Classification
Wirtschaft
Design of Experiments: Laboratory, Individual
Labor Contracts
Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
Subject
Cooperation
Experiment
Contracts
Indenture
Reciprocity
Agency Theory
Spieltheorie
Anreizvertrag
Experiment
Theorie

Event
Geistige Schöpfung
(who)
Kritikos, Alexander S.
Tan, Jonathan H. W.
Event
Veröffentlichung
(who)
European University Viadrina, Department of Business Administration and Economics
(where)
Frankfurt (Oder)
(when)
2005

Handle
Last update
10.03.2025, 11:42 AM CET

Data provider

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Object type

  • Arbeitspapier

Associated

  • Kritikos, Alexander S.
  • Tan, Jonathan H. W.
  • European University Viadrina, Department of Business Administration and Economics

Time of origin

  • 2005

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