Cognitive ability and in-group bias: An experimental study

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Paetzel, Fabian; Sausgruber, Rupert
• 署名单位: Helmut Schmidt University; Helmut Schmidt University; Vienna University of Economics & Business
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2018.04.006
• 发表日期: 2018
• 页码: 280-292
• 关键词: Cognitive ability; Group identity; Entitlements; social preferences; Minimal groups; PUNISHMENT; social norms; social status

摘要

We study the role of performance differences in a task requiring cognitive effort on in-group bias. We show that the in-group bias is strong in groups consisting of high-performing members, and it is weak in low-performing groups. This holds although high-performing subjects exhibit no in-group bias as members of minimal groups, whereas low-performing subjects strongly do. We also observe instances of low-performing subjects punishing the in-group favoritism of low-performing peers. The same does not occur in high-performing or minimal groups where subjects generally accept that decisions are in-group biased. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.