The Importance of Moral Reflection and Self-Reported Data in a Dictator Game with Production

26 Pages Posted: 11 Feb 2010

See all articles by Alexander W. Cappelen

Alexander W. Cappelen

Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) - Department of Economics; CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

Astri Drange Hole

Bergen University College

Erik Sorensen

Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) - Department of Economics

Bertil Tungodden

Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) - Department of Economics

Date Written: January 9, 2008

Abstract

This paper studies how individual behavior is affected by moral reflection in a dictator game with production, and the informational value of self-reported data on fairness. We nd that making individuals reflect on fairness before they play the dictator game has a moderate effect on the weight attached to fairness in distributive choices, and a strong effect on what people consider fair. Furthermore, we find that self-reported data have substantial informational value, but still do not add explanatory power to a random utility model estimated on purely behavioral data. Finally, by studying the behavior of individuals who deviate from their self- reported fairness ideal, we do not find much support for the hypothesis that people are self-serving in their choice of fairness ideal.

Keywords: dictator game, distributive justice, experimental data, fairness, moral reflection, self-serving bias, survey data

JEL Classification: C91, D63

Suggested Citation

Cappelen, Alexander W. and Hole, Astri Drange and Sorensen, Erik and Tungodden, Bertil, The Importance of Moral Reflection and Self-Reported Data in a Dictator Game with Production (January 9, 2008). NHH Dept. of Economics Discussion Paper No. 40/2007, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1550776 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1550776

Alexander W. Cappelen (Contact Author)

Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) - Department of Economics ( email )

Helleveien 30
N-5035 Bergen
Norway

CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)

Poschinger Str. 5
Munich, DE-81679
Germany

Astri Drange Hole

Bergen University College ( email )

P.O. Box 7030
N-5020 Bergen
Norway
+47 55 587704 (Phone)
+47 55 298364 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://home.hib.no/ansatte/adh/adh1.htm

Erik Sorensen

Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) - Department of Economics ( email )

Helleveien 30
Bergen, NO-5045
Norway

Bertil Tungodden

Norwegian School of Economics (NHH) - Department of Economics ( email )

Helleveien 30
N-5035 Bergen
Norway

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