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Social Preferences, Trust, and Communication when the Truth Hurts

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Listed:
  • Jonathan Gehle
  • Ferdinand A. von Siemens
  • Ferdinand von Siemens

Abstract

We investigate how heterogeneous social preferences affect the communication of painful information in social relationships. We characterize the existence conditions for a pooling equilibrium in which individuals conceal painful information because revealing the latter would signal that they are selfish, thereby leading to a loss of trust. We also find that compassionate individuals may then be more tempted to reveal bad news than selfish individuals because they benefit less from an intact social relationship. Moreover, there may be multiple equilibria with different degrees of information disclosure and standard equilibrium refinements have no bite. Coordination on an inefficient equilibrium could therefore lead to severe information frictions, even if the pain of receiving bad news is quite small.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonathan Gehle & Ferdinand A. von Siemens & Ferdinand von Siemens, 2024. "Social Preferences, Trust, and Communication when the Truth Hurts," CESifo Working Paper Series 11181, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_11181
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    communication; painful information; social preferences; trust;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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