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Advice and behavior in a dictator game: An experimental study

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  • He, Simin
  • Pan, Xintong

Abstract

We experimentally examine the effects of advice on decision making in a dictator game in which participants receive no advice, selfish advice, or fair advice before making decisions and the advisors do not benefit from the decision makers’ actions. We find that participants receiving fair advice are more inclined to exhibit fair behavior, whereas those receiving selfish advice are more likely to act selfishly; however, no significant difference in magnitude between the effects of fair and selfish advice is found. We also discover that both types of advice have a more pronounced impact on participants with relatively lower social tendencies, as indicated by the social value orientation test. This study is the first to directly demonstrate the impact of fair and selfish advice in moral dilemmas.

Suggested Citation

  • He, Simin & Pan, Xintong, 2024. "Advice and behavior in a dictator game: An experimental study," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:111:y:2024:i:c:s2214804324000818
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socec.2024.102243
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Advice; Dictator games; Moral wiggle room; Laboratory experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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