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Emotions and Punishment in Public Good Experiments

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  • David L. Dickinson
  • Daivd Masclet

Abstract

Experimental studies have shown that sanctions effectively deter free riding within groups. However, the over-use of costly punishment may actually harm overall welfare. A main reason for over-punishment is that free-riders generate negative emotions that likely favor excessive punishments. In this paper we ask whether the venting of one’s emotions in different ways can reduce the level of excessive punishment in a standard VCM-with-punishment environment while preserving the norm enforcement properties of punishment. We find that venting emotions reduces (excessive) punishment, and under certain conditions the net effect is an increase in final payoffs (i.e., welfare) to the group. Key Words: sanctions, public good, experiment, venting emotions

Suggested Citation

  • David L. Dickinson & Daivd Masclet, 2014. "Emotions and Punishment in Public Good Experiments," Working Papers 14-03, Department of Economics, Appalachian State University.
    • Handle: RePEc:apl:wpaper:14-03
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    File URL: http://econ.appstate.edu/RePEc/pdf/wp1403.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    sanctions; public good; experiment; venting emotions;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement

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