A dictator game study on human expectations of generosity using time as a reward medium

Measuring expectations of generosity when agents make decisions about allocating their time is essential to prevent frictions arising from the under-fulfillment of beliefs. For this reason, we developed a dictator game based on imaginary sharing situations. Subjects in hypothetical recipient roles made point estimates of how long fictitious allocators would be willing to spend alone in a low-stimulus room while varying the social distance and the stake size. The results obtained are in line with those observed in laboratory experiments applying distributions of monetary resources. Most participants predicted dictators would choose an equal split, and only a minority projected selfish or hyper-altruistic allocation. On average, those who perceived high social distance anticipated the same degree of generosity as those who marked their beliefs in response to a description of a low social distance environment. Expectations typically showed the same similarity when different stake sizes were in question. Age and gender did not have significant effects either.