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Norms and norm change - driven by social preferences and Kantian morality

Author

Listed:
  • Ingela Alger

    (TSE-R - Toulouse School of Economics - UT Capitole - Université Toulouse Capitole - UT - Université de Toulouse - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Peter Bayer

    (UAB - Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona = Autonomous University of Barcelona = Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona School of Economics)

Abstract

Norms indicate which behaviors are commonly expected and/or considered to be morally right. We examine how such norms come about and change by modeling a population of individuals with preferences – found elsewhere to be evolutionarily founded – combining ma-terial self-interest, Kantian moral concerns, and attitudes towards being materially ahead and behind others. The individuals interact in a public goods game. We identify conditions on preferences and beliefs which promote, respectively hamper, spontaneous norm change. Cru-cially, an individual's preferences and beliefs about the material benefits uniquely determines her threshold for collective behavior: s/he contributes if and only if sufficiently many others do so. However, those with sufficiently strong Kantian concerns contribute regardless.

Suggested Citation

  • Ingela Alger & Peter Bayer, 2025. "Norms and norm change - driven by social preferences and Kantian morality," Working Papers hal-04865431, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-04865431
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-04865431v1
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    File URL: https://hal.science/hal-04865431v1/document
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