Recognizing Contributors: An Experiment on Public Goods

30 Pages Posted: 15 Jan 2014

See all articles by Anya Samek

Anya Samek

University of California, San Diego (UCSD) - Rady School of Management; Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR)

Roman M. Sheremeta

Case Western Reserve University

Date Written: January 13, 2014

Abstract

We experimentally investigate the impact of recognizing contributors on public good contributions. We vary recognizing all, highest or lowest contributors. Consistent with previous studies, recognizing all contributors significantly increases contributions relative to the baseline. Recognizing only the highest contributors does not increase contributions compared to not recognizing contributors, while recognizing only the lowest contributors is as effective as recognizing all contributors. These findings support our conjecture that aversion from shame is a more powerful motivator for giving than anticipation of prestige.

Keywords: public-goods, information, experiments

JEL Classification: C72, C91, H41

Suggested Citation

Samek, Anya and Sheremeta, Roman M., Recognizing Contributors: An Experiment on Public Goods (January 13, 2014). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2378406 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2378406

Anya Samek (Contact Author)

University of California, San Diego (UCSD) - Rady School of Management ( email )

9500 Gilman Drive #0553
Rady School of Management
La Jolla, CA 92093-0553
United States

HOME PAGE: http://anyasamek.com

Center for Economic and Social Research (CESR) ( email )

635 Downey Way
Los Angeles, CA 90089-3332
United States

Roman M. Sheremeta

Case Western Reserve University ( email )

10900 Euclid Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44106
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
120
Abstract Views
988
Rank
419,528
PlumX Metrics