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The Effect of Information Provision on Voluntary Contributions to Public Goods: A Field Experiment on Blood Donation

Author

Listed:
  • Sobei Oda

    (Faculty of Economics, Kyoto Sangyo University, Japan)

  • Erika Seki

    (Faculty of Economics, Ritsumeikan University, Japan)

  • Yan Zhou

    (Faculty of Economics, Kyoto Sangyo University, Japan)

Abstract

When the provision of public goods requires contributions from individuals with different abilities, solicitation of efficient voluntary contributions from heterogeneous individuals becomes important. Blood banks are one such public resource. Blood banks perform a challenging task in ensuring a balanced supply of blood types to provide effective blood transfusion services. This study designs a field experiment in conjunction with a blood donation campaign to examine whether making potential donors aware of their potential contribution (the net marginal product of their donation) induces efficient individual donation behaviour. During the blood donation campaigns at the university, we conducted a field experiment with two treatments: one treatment with information regarding desired donor profiles for 400 ml whole blood donations and another treatment without such information. We find that the provision of information about desired donor profiles enhances the propensity of able donors to donate, whereas the information provision tends to depress the stated intention to donate.

Suggested Citation

  • Sobei Oda & Erika Seki & Yan Zhou, 2013. "The Effect of Information Provision on Voluntary Contributions to Public Goods: A Field Experiment on Blood Donation," Journal of Economics and Management, College of Business, Feng Chia University, Taiwan, vol. 9(2), pages 185-209, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:jec:journl:v:9:y:2013:i:2:p:185-209
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Chan, Kenneth S. & Mestelman, Stuart & Muller, R. Andrew, 2008. "Voluntary Provision of Public Goods," Handbook of Experimental Economics Results, in: Charles R. Plott & Vernon L. Smith (ed.), Handbook of Experimental Economics Results, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 88, pages 831-835, Elsevier.
    2. Fisher, Joseph & Isaac, R. Mark & Schatzberg, Jeffrey W & Walker, James M., 1995. "Heterogenous Demand for Public Goods: Behavior in the Voluntary Contributions Mechanism," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 85(3-4), pages 249-266, December.
    3. Bagnoli, Mark & McKee, Michael, 1991. "Voluntary Contribution Games: Efficient Private Provision of Public Goods," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 29(2), pages 351-366, April.
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    5. Gerlinde Fellner & Yoshio Iida & Sabine Kröger & Erika Seki, 2010. "Heterogeneous productivity in voluntary public good provision - An experimental analysis," Department of Economics Working Papers wuwp133, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Department of Economics.
    6. Kenneth S. Chan & Stuart Mestelman & Rob Moir & R. Andrew Muller Moir, 1996. "The Voluntary Provision of Public Goods under Varying Income Distributions," Canadian Journal of Economics, Canadian Economics Association, vol. 29(1), pages 54-69, February.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    public goods; field experiment; blood donation; heterogeneity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers

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