A Field Experiment in Charitable Contribution: The Impact of Social Information on the Voluntary Provision of Public Goods

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Shang, Jen; Croson, Rachel
• 署名单位: Indiana University System; Indiana University Bloomington; University of Texas System; University of Texas Dallas
• 刊物名称: ECONOMIC JOURNAL
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0013-0133
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0297.2009.02267.x
• 发表日期: 2009
• 页码: 1422-1439
• 关键词: conditional cooperation; impure altruism; Donations; incentives; NORMS; RECIPROCITY; exchange; BEHAVIOR; prestige; MODEL

摘要

We study the effect of social information on the voluntary provision of public goods. Competing theories predict that others' contributions might be either substitutes or complements to one's own. We demonstrate a positive social information effect on individual contributions, supporting theories of complementarities. We find the most influential level of social information is drawn from the 90th to 95th percentile of previous contributions. We furthermore find the effect to be significant for new members but not for renewing members. In the most effective condition, social information increases contributions by 12% ($13). These increased contributions do not crowd out future contributions.