New hope for the voluntary contributions mechanism: The effects of context

• 成果类型: Article; Proceedings Paper
• 署名作者: Messer, Kent D.; Zarghamee, Homa
• 署名单位: University of Delaware; Santa Clara University; Cornell University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2007.08.001
• 发表日期: 2007
• 页码: 1783-1799
• 关键词: voluntary contribution mechanism; cheap talk; voting; status quo bias; social norms; context; charitable contributions

摘要

This research examines how three common contextual factors can affect contributions in the linear voluntary contributions mechanism (VCM). Using business student subjects and a low marginal per capita rate of return, the results show that contributions in the last of ten rounds range from 18% for the traditional VCM with no initial cheap talk, no voting, and a status quo of not giving to 94% in a VCM with initial cheap talk, voting, and a status quo of giving. The results demonstrate that context can make the VCM produce sustained efficiencies similar to incentive-compatible public-good mechanisms. (C) 2007 Published by Elsevier B.V.