Testing Consumer Theory: Evidence From a Natural Field Experiment

Arbeitspapier

We present evidence from a natural field experiment designed to shed light on whether individual behavior is consistent with a neoclassical model of utility maximization subject to budget constraints. We do this through the lens of a field experiment on charitable giving. We find that the behavior of at least 80% of individuals, on both the extensive and intensive margins, can be rationalized within a standard neoclassical choice model in which individuals have preferences, defined over own consumption and their contribution towards the charitable good, satisfying the axioms of revealed preference.

Angaben zum Objekt

• Sprache: Englisch

Verweise und Beziehungen

• Erschienen in: Series: Discussion Paper ; No. 54

Klassifikation und Themen

• Klassifikation: Wirtschaft ; Field Experiments ; Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles ; Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis ; Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
• Thema: natural field experiment ; revealed preference

Beteiligte, Orts- und Zeitangaben

• Ereignis: Geistige Schöpfung
• (wer): Adena, Maja ; Huck, Steffen ; Rasul, Imran
• Ereignis: Veröffentlichung
• (wer): Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München und Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Collaborative Research Center Transregio 190 - Rationality and Competition
• (wo): München und Berlin
• (wann): 2017

Weitere Informationen

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/185724
• Letzte Aktualisierung: 10.03.2025, 11:44 MEZ