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Within and Across Class Envy: Anti-Social Behaviour in Hierarchical Groups

Author

Listed:
  • Philip J. Grossman
  • Mana Komai

Abstract

Models of social preferences (i.e. inequality aversion), assuming society is defined by a hierarchy based on income or wealth, predict that the poor envy the rich. Reference Group Theory predicts that the poor (rich) envy others from the same social group or class. We report results from a game designed to stimulate feelings of envy. Players are defined both by their place within an overarching hierarchy as well as by their place within the hierarchy of their specific class (i.e. their reference groups). We find that, while across class envy is common; within class envy motivates the most anti-social behaviour.

Suggested Citation

  • Philip J. Grossman & Mana Komai, 2013. "Within and Across Class Envy: Anti-Social Behaviour in Hierarchical Groups," Monash Economics Working Papers 02-13, Monash University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:mos:moswps:2013-02
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    File URL: http://www.buseco.monash.edu.au/eco/research/papers/2013/0213withinacrissgrossmankomai.pdf
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Fehr, Dietmar, 2018. "Is increasing inequality harmful? Experimental evidence," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 123-134.
    2. Gebretsadik, Kidanemariam Abreha, 2019. "Irrigation Water Scarcity and Antisocial Behavior: Experimental Evidence from Communal Irrigation Water," Working Paper Series 5-2019, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, School of Economics and Business.
    3. Sanjaya, Muhammad Ryan, 2023. "Antisocial behavior in experiments: What have we learned from the past two decades?," Research in Economics, Elsevier, vol. 77(1), pages 104-115.
    4. Alexandros Karakostas & Nhu Tran & Daniel John Zizzo, 2022. "Experimental Insights on Anti-Social Behavior: Two Meta-Analyses," Discussion Papers Series 658, School of Economics, University of Queensland, Australia.
    5. Feltovich, Nick & Ejebu, Ourega-Zoé, 2014. "Do positional goods inhibit saving? Evidence from a life-cycle experiment," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 107(PB), pages 440-454.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    anti-social preferences; envy; hierarchy; reference group theory;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D6 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics

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