Peer effects and social preferences in voluntary cooperation

Arbeitspapier

Substantial evidence suggests the behavioral relevance of social preferences and also the importance of social influence effects (peer effects). Yet, little is known about how peer effects and social preferences are related. In a three-person gift-exchange experiment we find causal evidence for peer effects in voluntary cooperation: agents' efforts are positively related despite the absence of material payoff interdependencies. We confront this result with major theories of social preferences which predict that efforts are unrelated, or negatively related. Some theories allow for positively-related efforts but cannot explain most observations. Conformism, norm following and considerations of social esteem are candidate explanations.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: IZA Discussion Papers ; No. 6277

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Design of Experiments: Laboratory, Group Behavior
• Subject: social preferences ; voluntary cooperation ; peer effects ; reflection problem ; gift exchange ; conformism ; social norms ; social esteem ; Soziale Gruppe ; Soziale Wohlfahrtsfunktion ; Test ; Soziale Norm ; Normbefolgung

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Thöni, Christian ; Gächter, Simon
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA)
• (where): Bonn
• (when): 2012

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/58909
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-201203064070
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET