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Smile, Dictator, You're on Camera

Author

Listed:
  • Joy A. Buchanan
  • Matthew K. McMahon
  • Matthew Simpson
  • Bart J. Wilson

Abstract

We investigate the degree to which people in a shopping mall express other‐regarding behavior in the dictator game. Whereas many studies have attempted to increase the social distance between the dictator and experimenter and between the dictator and recipient, we attempt to minimize that social distance between random strangers by video recording the decisions, with the permission of the dictators, to display their image on the Internet. Offers made by dictators are high, relative to other experiments, and a nontrivial number give the entire experimental windfall away. However, a nontrivial number of people keep everything as well.

Suggested Citation

  • Joy A. Buchanan & Matthew K. McMahon & Matthew Simpson & Bart J. Wilson, 2017. "Smile, Dictator, You're on Camera," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 84(1), pages 52-65, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:soecon:v:84:y:2017:i:1:p:52-65
    DOI: 10.1002/soej.12214
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Chowdhury, Subhasish M. & Jeon, Joo Young & Saha, Bibhas, 2023. "Eye-image as nonverbal social cue has asymmetric gender effects in dictator taking games," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 107(C).
    2. Anita Kopányi-Peuker & Jin Di Zheng, 2019. ""I" on You: Identity in the Dictator Game," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 19-049/II, Tinbergen Institute.
    3. Miklánek, Tomáš, 2018. "Information Asymmetry and Exposure Effects in Dictator Games," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 29-39.

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