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Social Class and (Un)Ethical Behaviour: Causal and Correlational Evidence

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  • Elisabeth Gsottbauer
  • Daniel Müller
  • Samuel Müller
  • Stefan T Trautmann
  • Galina Zudenkova

Abstract

Are individuals of higher socio-economic status less ethical than those of lower status? Highly popularised research findings claim that this is the case. This paper provides evidence against this claim, based on data from two large survey experiments with more than 11,000 participants. We prime social status in two heterogeneous samples of the German population and then elicit ethical behaviour in an incentivised experimental task. Thus, our data allows us to study both correlation (using demographic data) and causality (using the priming). Our study rejects the claim that higher social status individuals are less ethical on both accounts.

Suggested Citation

  • Elisabeth Gsottbauer & Daniel Müller & Samuel Müller & Stefan T Trautmann & Galina Zudenkova, 2022. "Social Class and (Un)Ethical Behaviour: Causal and Correlational Evidence," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 132(647), pages 2392-2411.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:econjl:v:132:y:2022:i:647:p:2392-2411.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/ej/ueac022
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    Cited by:

    1. Le Maux, Benoît & Necker, Sarah, 2023. "Honesty nudges: Effect varies with content but not with timing," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 433-456.
    2. Necker, Sarah & Paetzel, Fabian, 2023. "The effect of losing and winning on cheating and effort in repeated competitions," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    3. Yilong Xu & Ginevra Marandola, 2023. "The (negative) effects of inequality on Social Capital," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(5), pages 1562-1588, December.
    4. Wang, Wenhua & Chen, Peikun & Li, Jianbiao & Niu, Xiaofei, 2024. "Institutional quarantine and dishonest behavior," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 104(C).
    5. Zhang, Yanan & Li, Jianbiao & Cao, Qian & Niu, Xiaofei, 2024. "Institutional quarantine and economic preferences: Experimental evidence from China," China Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
    6. Stefan T. Trautmann, 2023. "Procedural fairness and equality of opportunity," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(5), pages 1697-1714, December.
    7. Jin Zheng & Arthur Schram & Tianle Song, 2023. "Social status and prosocial behavior," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 26(5), pages 1085-1114, November.

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