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The Influence of Legitimacy Perceptions on Cooperation – A Framed Field Experiment

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  • Bouma, Jetske A.
  • Joy, K.J.
  • Paranjape, Suhas
  • Ansink, Erik

Abstract

Decentralization of irrigation management is claimed to improve performance by enhancing legitimacy and, thus, increasing cooperation. We test this hypothesis by collecting information about water users’ legitimacy perceptions and assessing the impact of these perceptions on irrigation charge payments and behavior in a framed field experiment. Our results show that legitimacy perceptions differ between communities and between water users association members and non-members but that these differences do not explain charge payments nor behavior in the irrigation treatment of the game. We conclude that decentralization may enhance legitimacy perceptions but that this does not necessarily increase cooperation in irrigation management.

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  • Bouma, Jetske A. & Joy, K.J. & Paranjape, Suhas & Ansink, Erik, 2014. "The Influence of Legitimacy Perceptions on Cooperation – A Framed Field Experiment," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 127-137.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:57:y:2014:i:c:p:127-137
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2013.12.007
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    2. Kok, Lucille & Oosterbaan, Veerle & Stoker, Hester & Vyrastekova, Jana, 2020. "In-group favouritism and social norms: Public goods experiments in Tanzania," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    3. Brent, Daniel A. & Friesen, Lana & Gangadharan, Lata & Leibbrandt, Andreas, 2017. "Behavioral Insights from Field Experiments in Environmental Economics," International Review of Environmental and Resource Economics, now publishers, vol. 10(2), pages 95-143, May.
    4. Bouma, Jetske & Reyes-García, Victoria & Huanca, Tomas & Arrazola, Susana, 2017. "Understanding conditions for co-management: A framed field experiment amongst the Tsimane’, Bolivia," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 32-42.
    5. Morgan, Stephen N. & Mason, Nicole M. & Shupp, Robert S., 2019. "The effects of voice with(out) punishment: Public goods provision and rule compliance," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    6. Ansink, Erik & Bouma, Jetske, 2013. "Framed field experiments with heterogeneous frame connotation," MPRA Paper 43975, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Blanco, Esther & Lopez, Maria Claudia & Villamayor-Tomas, Sergio, 2015. "Exogenous degradation in the commons: Field experimental evidence," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 430-439.
    8. Morgan, S. & Mason, N. & Shupp, R., 2018. "Stakeholder Comments, Contributions, and Compliance: Evidence from a Public Goods Experiment," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 277122, International Association of Agricultural Economists.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    framed field experiment; public goods game; irrigation management; legitimacy; water users association;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D70 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - General
    • Q15 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Land Ownership and Tenure; Land Reform; Land Use; Irrigation; Agriculture and Environment
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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