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Transparency and cooperation in repeated dilemma games: a meta study

Author

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  • Lenka Fiala

    (Tilburg University)

  • Sigrid Suetens

    (Tilburg University)

Abstract

We use data from experiments on finitely repeated dilemma games with fixed matching to investigate the effect of different types of information on cooperation. The data come from 71 studies using the voluntary contributions paradigm, covering 122 data points, and from 18 studies on decision-making in oligopoly, covering another 50 data points. We find similar effects in the two sets of experimental games. We find that transparency about what everyone in a group earns reduces contributions to the public good, as well as the degree of collusion in oligopoly markets. In contrast, transparency about choices tends to lead to an increase in contributions and collusion, although the size of this effect varies somewhat between the two settings. Our results are potentially useful for policy making, because they provide guidance on the type of information to target in order to stimulate or limit cooperation.

Suggested Citation

  • Lenka Fiala & Sigrid Suetens, 2017. "Transparency and cooperation in repeated dilemma games: a meta study," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 20(4), pages 755-771, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:expeco:v:20:y:2017:i:4:d:10.1007_s10683-017-9517-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10683-017-9517-4
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    Cited by:

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    3. Ghidoni, Riccardo & Cleave, Blair L. & Suetens, Sigrid, 2019. "Perfect and imperfect strangers in social dilemmas," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 148-159.
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    5. Jun Maekawa & Koji Shimada & Ai Takeuchi, 2022. "Sustainability of renewable energy investment motivations during a feed-in-tariff scheme transition: evidence from a laboratory experiment," The Japanese Economic Review, Springer, vol. 73(1), pages 83-101, January.
    6. Guido, Andrea & Robbett, Andrea & Romaniuc, Rustam, 2019. "Group formation and cooperation in social dilemmas: A survey and meta-analytic evidence," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 192-209.
    7. Martin Paldam, 2019. "Methods used in economic research. An empirical study of trends and levels," Working Papers CEB 19-002, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    8. John C. Boik, 2020. "Science-Driven Societal Transformation, Part I: Worldview," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-28, August.
    9. Liu, Jia & Sonntag, Axel & Zizzo, Daniel John, 2022. "Information defaults in repeated public good provision," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 356-369.
    10. Mermer, Ayşe Gül & Müller, Wieland & Suetens, Sigrid, 2021. "Cooperation in infinitely repeated games of strategic complements and substitutes," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 1191-1205.
    11. Potters, Jan & Xu, Yilong, 2020. "Social information and selfishness," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 327-340.
    12. Gianna Lotito & Matteo Migheli & Guido Ortona, 2020. "Transparency, asymmetric information and cooperation," European Journal of Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 50(2), pages 267-294, October.
    13. Yoshio Kamijo & Daisuke Nakama, 2023. "Designing division of labor with strategic uncertainty within organizations: Model analysis and a behavioral experiment," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(2), pages 257-272, April.
    14. Sonntag, Axel & Zizzo, Daniel John, 2019. "Personal accountability and cooperation in teams," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 428-448.
    15. Tan, Jonathan H W & Bolle, Friedel, 2023. "Intragroup punishment and intergroup conflict aversion weaken intragroup cooperation in finitely repeated games," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    16. Pevnitskaya, Svetlana & Ryvkin, Dmitry, 2022. "The effect of access to clean technology on pollution reduction: An experiment," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 117-141.
    17. Lisa Bruttel & Gerald Eisenkopf & Juri Nithammer, 2024. "Pre-election communication in public good games with endogenous leaders," CEPA Discussion Papers 73, Center for Economic Policy Analysis.
    18. Brañas-Garza, Pablo & Molis, Elena & Neyse, Levent, 2021. "Exposure to inequality may cause under-provision of public goods: Experimental evidence," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    19. Fijnanda van Klingeren & Vincent Buskens, 2024. "Graduated sanctioning, endogenous institutions and sustainable cooperation in common-pool resources: An experimental test," Rationality and Society, , vol. 36(2), pages 183-229, May.
    20. Mitani, Yohei & Yukizaki, Naoya, 2024. "Voluntary cooperation for mitigating collective-risk under spatial externalities," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    21. Bulutay, Muhammed & Hales, David & Julius, Patrick & Tasch, Weiwei, 2021. "Imperfect tacit collusion and asymmetric price transmission," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 584-599.
    22. Martin Paldam, 2018. "The strategies of economic research - An empirical study," Economics Working Papers 2018-04, Department of Economics and Business Economics, Aarhus University.
    23. Ning, Shuying & Lin, Zhiyang, 2023. "Effect of accounting information manipulation on innovation: Evidence from China," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 56(C).
    24. Paetzel, Fabian & Lorenz, Jan & Tepe, Markus, 2018. "Transparency diminishes framing-effects in voting on redistribution: Some experimental evidence," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 169-184.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Information; Cooperation; Repeated game; Metastudy; Laboratory experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D8 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty
    • H4 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods
    • L1 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance

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