CASTING DOUBT: IMAGE CONCERNS AND THE COMMUNICATION OF SOCIAL IMPACT

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Foerster, Manuel; van der Weele, Joel J.
• 署名单位: University of Bielefeld; University of Amsterdam
• 刊物名称: ECONOMIC JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0013-0133
• DOI: 10.1093/ej/ueab014
• 发表日期: 2021
• 页码: 2887-2919
• 关键词: strategic information-transmission; COOPERATION; incentives; preference; deception; BEHAVIOR

摘要

We investigate strategic communication about the social impact of costly prosocial actions. A 'sender' with noisy information about impact sends a cheap-talk message to a 'receiver', upon which both agents choose whether to act. In the presence of social preferences and image concerns, the sender trades off persuasion, exaggerating impact to induce receiver action, and justification, downplaying impact to cast doubt on the effectiveness of action and excuse her own passivity. In an experiment on charitable giving we find evidence for both motives. In line with our theory and a justification motive, increasing image concerns reduces communication of positive impact.