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Adam Smith’s error? Gender and country differences in altruistic giving revealed using the Andreoni–Miller dictator game

Author

Listed:
  • Chew, Soo Hong
  • Ebstein, Richard P.
  • Israel, Salomon
  • Lei, Zhen
  • Tang, Wei

Abstract

Altruistic giving is investigated using the Andreoni–Miller (2002) dictator game with 3778 participants in three populations — Chinese from Beijing and Singapore and Jews from Israel. We replicate the Andreoni–Vesterlund (2001) finding that women are more equality-focused than men. Additionally, participants from China are more generous than those from Singapore or Israel.

Suggested Citation

  • Chew, Soo Hong & Ebstein, Richard P. & Israel, Salomon & Lei, Zhen & Tang, Wei, 2023. "Adam Smith’s error? Gender and country differences in altruistic giving revealed using the Andreoni–Miller dictator game," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolet:v:225:y:2023:i:c:s0165176523000848
    DOI: 10.1016/j.econlet.2023.111059
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Chew, Soo Hong & Ebstein, Richard P. & Zhong, Songfa, 2013. "Sex-hormone genes and gender difference in ultimatum game: Experimental evidence from China and Israel," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 28-42.
    2. Uri Gneezy & Kenneth L. Leonard & John A. List, 2009. "Gender Differences in Competition: Evidence From a Matrilineal and a Patriarchal Society," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 77(5), pages 1637-1664, September.
    3. Doñate-Buendía, Anabel & García-Gallego, Aurora & Petrović, Marko, 2022. "Gender and other moderators of giving in the dictator game: A meta-analysis," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 280-301.
    4. James Andreoni & Lise Vesterlund, 2001. "Which is the Fair Sex? Gender Differences in Altruism," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 116(1), pages 293-312.
    5. Eckel, Catherine C. & Grossman, Philip J., 2008. "Differences in the Economic Decisions of Men and Women: Experimental Evidence," Handbook of Experimental Economics Results, in: Charles R. Plott & Vernon L. Smith (ed.), Handbook of Experimental Economics Results, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 57, pages 509-519, Elsevier.
    6. Binglin Gong & Huibin Yan & Chun-Lei Yang, 2015. "Gender differences in the dictator experiment: evidence from the matrilineal Mosuo and the patriarchal Yi," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 18(2), pages 302-313, June.
    7. Christoph Engel, 2011. "Dictator games: a meta study," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 14(4), pages 583-610, November.
    8. Elaine M. Liu & Sharon Xuejing Zuo, 2019. "Measuring the impact of interaction between children of a matrilineal and a patriarchal culture on gender differences in risk aversion," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 116(14), pages 6713-6719, April.
    9. David Bilén & Anna Dreber & Magnus Johannesson, 2021. "Are women more generous than men? A meta-analysis," Journal of the Economic Science Association, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 7(1), pages 1-18, September.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Lab experiment; Dictator games; Social preference; Gender differences; Cultural differences;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination
    • Z10 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - General

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