Pledges and how social influence shapes their effectiveness

Koessler, Ann Kathrin (2022) Pledges and how social influence shapes their effectiveness. Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics, 98. ISSN 2214-8043

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Abstract

Pledges are used to signal the intention to act in a socially desirable way. In this study, we examine what role social influence plays in the decision to pledge. In a laboratory experiment, subjects can make a pledge to contribute to a public good in the socially optimal way. Across treatment conditions, we vary the way in which the pledges are elicited. Hence, the degree of social influence on pledge-making is manipulated and its impact can be examined. We find that when individuals are aware that the majority of other subjects decided to pledge, they are likely to conform and also make the pledge. The emergence of such a critical mass can be stimulated by (institutional) design, namely by determining the elicitation order on the basis of previous behavior. Overall, this commitment nudge is effective. Both socially-oriented and previously not socially-oriented subjects modify their behavior after the pledge.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-b...
Additional Information:	© 2022 The Author
Divisions:	Geography & Environment
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HM Sociology B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
JEL classification:	A - General Economics and Teaching > A1 - General Economics > A13 - Relation of Economics to Social Values C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C7 - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory > C71 - Cooperative Games C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C9 - Design of Experiments > C91 - Laboratory, Individual Behavior H - Public Economics > H4 - Publicly Provided Goods > H41 - Public Goods
Date Deposited:	30 Mar 2022 23:12
Last Modified:	17 Apr 2024 21:12
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/114538

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