Fostering Cooperation: The Conflict-Reducing Effects of Intervillage Competition for Government Transfers

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Garg, Teevrat; Gennaioli, Caterina; Lovo, Stefania; Singer, Gregor
• 署名单位: University of California System; University of California San Diego; University of London; Queen Mary University London; University of Reading; University of London; London School Economics & Political Science
• 刊物名称: AMERICAN ECONOMIC JOURNAL-APPLIED ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 1945-7782
• DOI: 10.1257/app.20240377
• 发表日期: 2026
• 关键词: public-goods; INTERGROUP COMPETITION; political competition; development-projects; ethnic diversity; aid; COORDINATION; INNOVATION; ECONOMICS; Indonesia

摘要

We examine the effect of intergroup competition on within-group violent conflict in Indonesia. Using a triple-differences design, we find that higher competition for national government transfers between villages reduces within-village conflict. These effects persist regardless of the competition's outcome, are stronger in ethnically fractionalized and segregated villages, and are accompanied by higher attendance in village meetings. Our results are consistent with external competition favoring participation and cooperation within otherwise divided communities, suggesting that economic incentives to compete with out-groups combined with forms of civic engagement can be important mechanisms to reduce violence within communities.