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Why Punish: Social Reciprocity and the Enforcement of Prosocial Norms

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  • Peter Matthews
  • Jeffrey Carpenter

Abstract

Recently economists have become interested in why people who face social dilemmas in the experimental lab use the seemingly incredible threat of punishment to deter free riding. Three theories have evolved to explain punishment. We survey each theory and se behavioral data from surveys and experiments to show that the theory called social reciprocity in which people punish norm violators indiscriminately explains punishment best. We also show that social reciprocity can evolve in a population of free riders and contributors if the initial conditions are favorable.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Matthews & Jeffrey Carpenter, 2002. "Why Punish: Social Reciprocity and the Enforcement of Prosocial Norms," Middlebury College Working Paper Series 0213, Middlebury College, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:mdl:mdlpap:0213
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    File URL: http://www.middlebury.edu/services/econ/repec/mdl/ancoec/0213.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    social dilemma; public good; punishment; reciprocity; norm; evolutionary game theory; experiment;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • C92 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Group Behavior
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers
    • H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods

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