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Group-based trust, trustworthiness and voluntary cooperation: Evidence from experimental and survey data in China

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  • Qin, Xiangdong
  • Shen, Junyi
  • Meng, Xindan

Abstract

Trust, trustworthiness and cooperation are crucial in achieving social goals, and are thus essential components of social capital. This paper reports the results of a series of lab and artefactual field experiments carried out in Shanghai to evaluate some of the key indicators of social capital in China. The groups selected for the study are middle school and undergraduate university students and community residents. The experiments comprise two public goods games, a gambling game and a trust game. The overall level of trust is negatively related to age, although trusting behavior is also affected by other factors, such as risk-taking.

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  • Qin, Xiangdong & Shen, Junyi & Meng, Xindan, 2011. "Group-based trust, trustworthiness and voluntary cooperation: Evidence from experimental and survey data in China," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 40(4), pages 356-363, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:soceco:v:40:y:2011:i:4:p:356-363
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    Cited by:

    1. Junyi Shen & Xiangdong Qin, 2014. "Cooperation, Trust and Economic Development: An Experimental Study in China," Pacific Economic Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 19(4), pages 423-438, October.
    2. Alin Halimatussadiah & Budy P. Resosudarmo & Diah Widyawati, 2014. "Social Capital to Induce a Contribution to Environmental Collective Action in Indonesia: An Experimental Method," Departmental Working Papers 2014-03, The Australian National University, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics.
    3. Holden, Stein T. & Tilahun , Mesfin, 2017. "Group Trust in Youth Business Groups: Influenced by Risk Tolerance and Expected Trustworthiness," CLTS Working Papers 13/17, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Centre for Land Tenure Studies, revised 21 Oct 2019.
    4. Luo, Jun & Wang, Xinxin, 2020. "Hukou identity and trust—Evidence from a framed field experiment in China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    5. Lingling Wang & Tsunemi Watanabe, 2017. "Influence of Trust on Biomass Supply Decision-Making in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-19, October.
    6. Schniter, Eric & Shields, Timothy W., 2014. "Ageism, honesty, and trust," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 19-29.
    7. van den Akker, Olmo R. & van Assen, Marcel A.L.M. & van Vugt, Mark & Wicherts, Jelte M., 2020. "Sex differences in trust and trustworthiness: A meta-analysis of the trust game and the gift-exchange game," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).

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