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Mimetic behaviour and institutional persistence: A two-armed bandit experiment

Author

Listed:
  • Innocenti, Stefania

    (UNU‐MERIT, Maastricht University)

  • Cowan, Robin

    (UNU‐MERIT, Maastricht University, and Beta, Universite de Strasbourg)

Abstract

Institutions are the result of many individual decisions. Understanding how agents filter available information concerning the behaviour of others is therefore crucial. In this paper we investigate whether and how agents' self-efficacy beliefs affect mimetic behaviour and thus, implicitly the evolution of institutions. We propose an experimental task, which is a modified version of the two-armed bandit with finite time horizon. In the first treatment, we study in detail individual learning. In the second treatment, we measure how individuals use the information they gather while observing a randomly selected group leader. We find a negative relation between self-efficacy beliefs and the propensity to emulate a peer. This might ultimately affect the likelihood of institutional change.

Suggested Citation

  • Innocenti, Stefania & Cowan, Robin, 2016. "Mimetic behaviour and institutional persistence: A two-armed bandit experiment," MERIT Working Papers 2016-028, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    • Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2016028
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    File URL: https://unu-merit.nl/publications/wppdf/2016/wp2016-028.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Emulation; mimicry; laboratory experiment; self-efficacy; institutional change;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B52 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Historical; Institutional; Evolutionary; Modern Monetary Theory;
    • C13 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - Estimation: General
    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • D02 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Institutions: Design, Formation, Operations, and Impact
    • D03 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Behavioral Microeconomics: Underlying Principles
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness

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