The impact of group size on giving versus demand for redistribution

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Mollerstrom, Johanna; Strulov-Shlain, Avner; Taubinsky, Dmitry
• 署名单位: George Mason University; Research Institute of Industrial Economics (IFN); University of Chicago; University of California System; University of California Berkeley; National Bureau of Economic Research
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2024.105200
• 发表日期: 2024
• 关键词: social preferences; Giving; redistribution; public goods

摘要

We report the results of an online experiment studying preferences for giving and preferences for group-wide redistribution in small (4-person) and large (200-person) groups. We find that the desire to engage in voluntary giving decreases significantly with (perceived) group size. However, voting for group-wide redistribution is precisely estimated to not depend on group size. Moreover, people's perceptions of what constitutes the relevant group are malleable, and affect their desire to give. These results suggest that government programs, such as progressive tax-and-transfer systems, can help satisfy other-regarding preferences for redistribution in a way that creating opportunities for voluntary giving cannot.