From the Lab to the Field: Cooperation among Fishermen

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Stoop, Jan; Noussair, Charles N.; Van Soest, Daan
• 署名单位: Erasmus University Rotterdam - Excl Erasmus MC; Erasmus University Rotterdam; Tilburg University; Tilburg University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF POLITICAL ECONOMY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-3808
• DOI: 10.1086/669253
• 发表日期: 2012
• 页码: 1027-1056
• 关键词: Public-goods experiments; VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS MECHANISM; MEASURING SOCIAL PREFERENCES; Conditional cooperation; BEHAVIOR; COMPETITION; RECIPROCITY; PUNISHMENT; ECONOMICS; fairness

摘要

We conduct a field experiment to measure cooperation among groups of recreational fishermen at a privately owned fishing facility. Group earnings are greater when group members catch fewer fish. Consistent with classical economic theory, though in contrast to prior results from laboratory experiments, we find no cooperation. A series of additional treatments identifies causes of the difference. We rule out the subject pool and the laboratory setting as potential causes and identify the type of activity involved as the source of the lack of cooperation in our field experiment. When cooperation requires reducing fishing effort, individuals are not cooperative.