Breaking the norm: An empirical investigation into the unraveling of good behavior
We present results from an artefactual field experiment conducted in rural Peru that considers whether observing non-reciprocal behavior influences an individual's decision to reciprocate. Specifically, we consider the behavior of second movers in a trust game, assessing whether their decision to re...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | Inglés |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2012
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/153050 |
| _version_ | 1855532826447839232 |
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| author | Hill, Ruth Vargas Maruyama, Eduardo Viceisza, Angelino |
| author_browse | Hill, Ruth Vargas Maruyama, Eduardo Viceisza, Angelino |
| author_facet | Hill, Ruth Vargas Maruyama, Eduardo Viceisza, Angelino |
| author_sort | Hill, Ruth Vargas |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | We present results from an artefactual field experiment conducted in rural Peru that considers whether observing non-reciprocal behavior influences an individual's decision to reciprocate. Specifically, we consider the behavior of second movers in a trust game, assessing whether their decision to reciprocate is influenced by the observed reciprocity of others. In documenting the impact of an external shock to observed reciprocity, this paper shows that small increases in non-reciprocal behavior result in an unraveling of the norm of reciprocity. Survey data is used to explore mechanisms by which this occurred. Results are not consistent with learning effects, suggesting that preferences may be changed by observing others deviating from a norm of reciprocity. These results suggest that investing in encouraging trustworthy behavior can have large benefits in situations where individuals are observing each other's behavior, such as may be the case in a new market institution. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace153050 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publishDateRange | 2012 |
| publishDateSort | 2012 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| publisherStr | Elsevier |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1530502025-09-25T13:01:42Z Breaking the norm: An empirical investigation into the unraveling of good behavior Hill, Ruth Vargas Maruyama, Eduardo Viceisza, Angelino field experimentation norms social capital markets institutions We present results from an artefactual field experiment conducted in rural Peru that considers whether observing non-reciprocal behavior influences an individual's decision to reciprocate. Specifically, we consider the behavior of second movers in a trust game, assessing whether their decision to reciprocate is influenced by the observed reciprocity of others. In documenting the impact of an external shock to observed reciprocity, this paper shows that small increases in non-reciprocal behavior result in an unraveling of the norm of reciprocity. Survey data is used to explore mechanisms by which this occurred. Results are not consistent with learning effects, suggesting that preferences may be changed by observing others deviating from a norm of reciprocity. These results suggest that investing in encouraging trustworthy behavior can have large benefits in situations where individuals are observing each other's behavior, such as may be the case in a new market institution. 2012-09 2024-10-01T13:55:32Z 2024-10-01T13:55:32Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/153050 en Open Access Elsevier Hill, Ruth Vargas; Maruyama, Eduardo; Viceisza, Angelino 2012. Breaking the norm: An empirical investigation into the unraveling of good behavior. Journal of Development Economics 99(1): 150-162 |
| spellingShingle | field experimentation norms social capital markets institutions Hill, Ruth Vargas Maruyama, Eduardo Viceisza, Angelino Breaking the norm: An empirical investigation into the unraveling of good behavior |
| title | Breaking the norm: An empirical investigation into the unraveling of good behavior |
| title_full | Breaking the norm: An empirical investigation into the unraveling of good behavior |
| title_fullStr | Breaking the norm: An empirical investigation into the unraveling of good behavior |
| title_full_unstemmed | Breaking the norm: An empirical investigation into the unraveling of good behavior |
| title_short | Breaking the norm: An empirical investigation into the unraveling of good behavior |
| title_sort | breaking the norm an empirical investigation into the unraveling of good behavior |
| topic | field experimentation norms social capital markets institutions |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/153050 |
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