Hey Look at Me: The Effect of Giving Circles on Giving

Karlan, Dean S.; McConnell, Margaret

Download This Paper

Open PDF in Browser

Add Paper to My Library

Hey Look at Me: The Effect of Giving Circles on Giving

NBER Working Paper No. w17737

19 Pages Posted: 8 Jan 2012 Last revised: 20 Jun 2026

See all articles by Dean S. Karlan

Dean S. Karlan

Yale University; Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management; Innovations for Poverty Action; Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL); National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR)

Margaret McConnell

Harvard University

There are 3 versions of this paper

Date Written: January 2012

Abstract

Theories abound for why individuals give to charity. We conduct a field experiment with donors to a Yale University service club to test the impact of a promise of public recognition on giving. Some may claim that they respond to an offer of public recognition not to improve their social standing, but rather to motivate others to give. To tease apart these two theories, we conduct a laboratory experiment with undergraduates, and find no evidence to support the alternative, altruistic motivation. We conclude that charitable gifts increase in response to the promise of public recognition primarily because of individuals' desire to improve their social image.

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Karlan, Dean S. and Karlan, Dean S. and McConnell, Margaret, Hey Look at Me: The Effect of Giving Circles on Giving (January 2012). NBER Working Paper No. w17737, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1981145