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Promoting pro-social behavior with public statements of good intent

Author

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  • Koessler, Ann-Kathrin
  • Page, Lionel
  • Dulleck, Uwe

Abstract

Voluntary and compulsory (but rarely enforced) public statements of good intent are frequently observed in the real world, as for example the `Banker's oath', the 'Hippocratic oath' or the requirement of many academic journals for authors to affirm that research was carried out ethically. In this study we investigate what effect such public statements have on contribution behavior in a public goods experiment. We argue that compliance with professional conduct can be seen as a public good and public statements of good intent can therefore be a low-cost policy intervention to foster contributions for the public good. Using a 'between-within subjects design' we identify three channels by which non-enforceable statements of intent are associated with higher levels of contributions to the public good. First, in a selection effect, socially-oriented participants are more likely in the experiment to make a public statement. Second, in a commitment effect, participants who make a public statement are contributing more to the public good. Third, in a coordination effect, aggregate contributions are higher when 'Statement-Makers' observe that also other group members make the statement. The latter explains why compulsory statements of good intent are more effective over time.

Suggested Citation

  • Koessler, Ann-Kathrin & Page, Lionel & Dulleck, Uwe, 2015. "Promoting pro-social behavior with public statements of good intent," MPRA Paper 80072, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 24 May 2017.
  • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:80072
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    2. Koessler, Ann-Kathrin & Ortiz-Riomalo, Juan Felipe & Janke, Mathias & Engel, Stefanie, 2020. "Structuring communication effectively for environmental cooperation," EconStor Preprints 213607, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    social dilemma; prosocial behavior; commitment; compliance; group decision making; policy making;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • A13 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Social Values
    • C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods

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