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Trust in Private and Common Property Experiments

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Listed:
  • James C. Cox
  • Elinor Ostrom
  • James M. Walker
  • Antonio Jamie Castillo
  • Eric Coleman
  • Robert Holahan
  • Michael Schoon
  • Brian Steed

Abstract

We report the results from a series of experiments designed to investigate behavior in two settings that are frequently posited in the policy literature as generating different outcomes: private property and common property. The experimental settings closely parallel earlier experimental studies of the investment or trust game. The primary research question relates to the effect of the initial allocation of property rights on the level of trust that subjects will extend to others with whom they are linked. We find that assigning the initial endowments as common property of each of N pairs of a first mover and second mover leads to marginally greater trust than when the initial endowments are fully owned by the two individual movers as their respective private property. Subjects' decisions are also shown to be correlated with attitudes toward trust and fairness that are measured in post‐experiment questionnaires.

Suggested Citation

  • James C. Cox & Elinor Ostrom & James M. Walker & Antonio Jamie Castillo & Eric Coleman & Robert Holahan & Michael Schoon & Brian Steed, 2009. "Trust in Private and Common Property Experiments," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 75(4), pages 957-975, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:soecon:v:75:y:2009:i:4:p:957-975
    DOI: 10.1002/j.2325-8012.2009.tb00942.x
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    3. Christian Bjørnskov, 2022. "Social trust and patterns of growth," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 89(1), pages 216-237, July.
    4. Ian David Soane & Rocco Scolozzi & Beatrice Marelli & Cristina Orsatti & Klaus Hubacek & Alessandro Gretter, 2011. "Developing a panarchy model of landscape conservation and management of alpine-mountain grassland in Northern Italy," Openloc Working Papers 1107, Public policies and local development.
    5. Berggren, Niclas & Bjørnskov, Christian, 2011. "Is the importance of religion in daily life related to social trust? Cross-country and cross-state comparisons," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 80(3), pages 459-480.
    6. Rapheal Andrew Luccasen III, 2012. "Individual Differences In Contributions And Crowding-Out Of A Public Good," Scottish Journal of Political Economy, Scottish Economic Society, vol. 59(4), pages 419-441, September.
    7. Wahl, Fabian, 2012. "Why it matters what people think: Beliefs, legal origins and the deep roots of trust," FZID Discussion Papers 52-2012, University of Hohenheim, Center for Research on Innovation and Services (FZID).
    8. Małecka, Agnieszka & Mitręga, Maciej & Mróz-Gorgoń, Barbara & Pfajfar, Gregor, 2022. "Adoption of collaborative consumption as sustainable social innovation: Sociability and novelty seeking perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 163-179.
    9. Giuseppe Attanasi & James C. Cox & Vjollca Sadiraj, 2022. "Festival Games: Inebriated and Sober Altruists," GREDEG Working Papers 2022-39, Groupe de REcherche en Droit, Economie, Gestion (GREDEG CNRS), Université Côte d'Azur, France.
    10. James C. Cox & Elinor Ostrom & James M. Walker, 2011. "Bosses and Kings: Asymmetric Power in Paired Common Pool and Public Good Games," Experimental Economics Center Working Paper Series 2011-06, Experimental Economics Center, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University, revised Aug 2012.
    11. Zofia Łapniewska, 2022. "Solidarity and mutual aid: Women organizing the “visible hand” urban commons," Gender, Work and Organization, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(5), pages 1405-1427, September.

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