Persuadable or Dissuadable Altruists? The Impact of Information of Recipient Characteristics on Giving

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Gangadharan, Lata; Grossman, Philip J.; Huang, Lingbo; Leister, C. Matthew; Xiao, Erte
• 署名单位: Shandong University; Monash University; University of Alaska System; University of Alaska Anchorage; Shandong University
• 刊物名称: ECONOMIC JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0013-0133
• DOI: 10.1093/ej/uead062
• 发表日期: 2023
• 页码: 2925-2948
• 关键词: charity; need

摘要

We investigate how information about recipients' characteristics affects donors' giving as opposed to when no information is available. In a rational model in which information causes a donor to update their assessment of the recipient's deservingness, we introduce the idea that altruism can be 'persuadable' ('dissuadable') by information about positive (negative) characteristics. We report data from three experiments in which donors are provided information regarding three recipient characteristics: alcoholism, attending courses, and disability. Across different characteristics, our results are broadly consistent with the predictions of persuadable altruism. Overall, we find a positive net impact of providing information on aggregate giving.