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The Misaddressed Letter Experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Gweneth Leigh
  • Andrew Leigh

Abstract

We design a new field experiment to test pro-social behaviour: will a household return a letter that has been incorrectly addressed? On average, we find that half of all letters were returned. Return rates do not vary significantly according to the gender, race or ethnicity of the fictitious addressee. However, return rates are higher in more affluent neighbourhoods.

Suggested Citation

  • Gweneth Leigh & Andrew Leigh, 2018. "The Misaddressed Letter Experiment," Applied Economics Letters, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(21), pages 1527-1530, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:apeclt:v:25:y:2018:i:21:p:1527-1530
    DOI: 10.1080/13504851.2018.1430323
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jo Holland & Antonio S Silva & Ruth Mace, 2012. "Lost Letter Measure of Variation in Altruistic Behaviour in 20 Neighbourhoods," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 7(8), pages 1-4, August.
    2. Fessler, Daniel M.T., 2009. "Return of the lost letter: Experimental framing does not enhance altruism in an everyday context," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 71(2), pages 575-578, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J71 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Labor Discrimination - - - Hiring and Firing
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers

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