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From Partisanship to Preference: How Identity Shapes Dependence Aversion

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  • Jana Freundt
  • Holger Herz

Abstract

We study how individuals’ willingness to delegate choice is affected by heterogeneity in identity between the delegee and the delegate. While it is straightforward that such heterogeneity can affect delegation for instrumental reasons, we show experimentally that divergent identity also causes delegation aversion through purely intrinsic channels. More specifically, we demonstrate that Republicans (Democrats) are intrinsically less averse to delegate decisions over their own outcomes when the delegate also identifies as a Republican (Democrat), compared to when the delegate identifies as a Democrat (Republican). By design, beliefs about the actions of the delegate cannot explain the observed treatment effect. Our finding suggests that contrasting identities impede the creation — or the continuation — of shared institutions that rely on centralization of control beyond what can be explained by purely instrumental reasons.

Suggested Citation

  • Jana Freundt & Holger Herz, 2024. "From Partisanship to Preference: How Identity Shapes Dependence Aversion," CESifo Working Paper Series 11304, CESifo.
  • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_11304
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    identity; autonomy; experiments;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D02 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Institutions: Design, Formation, Operations, and Impact
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making

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