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The Impact of Social Information on the Voluntary Provision of Public Goods: A Replication Study

Author

Listed:
  • James J. Murphy

    (University of Alaska Anchorage, Nankai University, Chapman University)

  • Nomin Batmunkh

    (University of Alaska Anchorage)

  • Ben Nilsson

    (University of Alaska Anchorage)

  • Samantha Ray

    (University of Alaska Anchorage)

Abstract

Shang and Croson (2009) found that providing information about the donation decisions of others can have a positive impact on individual donations to public radio. In this study, we attempted to replicate their results, however, we found no evidence of that social comparisons affected donation decisions. Most of our donors were renewing members, a group which Shang and Croson also found were not influenced by social information.

Suggested Citation

  • James J. Murphy & Nomin Batmunkh & Ben Nilsson & Samantha Ray, 2015. "The Impact of Social Information on the Voluntary Provision of Public Goods: A Replication Study," Working Papers 15-08, Chapman University, Economic Science Institute.
    • Handle: RePEc:chu:wpaper:15-08
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bernheim, B Douglas, 1994. "A Theory of Conformity," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 102(5), pages 841-877, October.
    2. Iris Bohnet & Richard Zeckhauser, 2004. "Social Comparisons in Ultimatum Bargaining," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 106(3), pages 495-510, October.
    3. Timothy N. Cason & Vai-Lam Mui, 1998. "Social Influence in the Sequential Dictator Game," Monash Economics Working Papers archive-37, Monash University, Department of Economics.
    4. Fredrik Carlsson & Jorge García & Åsa Löfgren, 2010. "Conformity and the Demand for Environmental Goods," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 47(3), pages 407-421, November.
    5. Allcott, Hunt, 2011. "Social norms and energy conservation," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(9-10), pages 1082-1095, October.
    6. Rachel Croson & Jen Shang, 2008. "The impact of downward social information on contribution decisions," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 11(3), pages 221-233, September.
    7. Paul J. Ferraro & Michael K. Price, 2013. "Using Nonpecuniary Strategies to Influence Behavior: Evidence from a Large-Scale Field Experiment," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 95(1), pages 64-73, March.
    8. Francisco Alpízar & Peter Martinsson, 2013. "Does It Matter if You Are Observed by Others? Evidence from Donations in the Field," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 115(1), pages 74-83, January.
    9. Rachel Croson & Jen Shang, 2013. "Limits Of The Effect Of Social Information On The Voluntary Provision Of Public Goods: Evidence From Field Experiments," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 51(1), pages 473-477, January.
    10. Allcott, Hunt, 2011. "Social norms and energy conservation," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 95(9), pages 1082-1095.
    11. Paul J. Ferraro & Juan Jose Miranda & Michael K. Price, 2011. "The Persistence of Treatment Effects with Norm-Based Policy Instruments: Evidence from a Randomized Environmental Policy Experiment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 101(3), pages 318-322, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Michal Krawczyk & Anna Kukla-Gryz & Joanna Tyrowicz, 2015. "Pushed by the crowd or pulled by the leaders? Peer effects in Pay-What-You-Want," Working Papers 2015-25, Faculty of Economic Sciences, University of Warsaw.
    2. Deck, Cary & Murphy, James J., 2019. "Donors change both their level and pattern of giving in response to contests among charities," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 91-106.
    3. Claire van Teunenbroek & René Bekkers, 2020. "Follow the crowd: Social information and crowdfunding donations in a large field experiment," Journal of Behavioral Public Administration, Center for Experimental and Behavioral Public Administration, vol. 3(1).
    4. Claire Teunenbroek & René Bekkers & Bianca Beersma, 2021. "They ought to do it too: Understanding effects of social information on donation behavior and mood," International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, Springer;International Association of Public and Non-Profit Marketing, vol. 18(2), pages 229-253, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Charitable giving; field experiment; philanthropy; public goods; social information; social comparison;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
    • C93 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Field Experiments

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