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National inequality, social capital, and public goods decision-making
[journal article]
Abstract Inequality affects how people make social decisions. Laboratory research has shown that when income inequality is simulated using cooperative economic games, groups with higher inequality often generate less wealth overall, with poorer group members receiving the worst outcomes. This study links the... view more
Inequality affects how people make social decisions. Laboratory research has shown that when income inequality is simulated using cooperative economic games, groups with higher inequality often generate less wealth overall, with poorer group members receiving the worst outcomes. This study links these experimental findings to real world inequality and applies a decision model to explain the effects in terms of social decision-making dynamics. Using a pre-existing dataset from 255 groups playing a public goods game in thirteen economically diverse societies, we show that in nations with higher inequality, groups contribute less (Research question (RQ) 1). Further, we find that higher inequality is associated with lower optimism regarding others’ contributions at the outset of the game and increased sensitivity to others’ contributions, which accelerates the decay of cooperation (RQ2). These effects might be explained by national differences in social capital as expressed by trust and adherence to civic norms (RQ3). Using the European Values Survey, we replicate the negative association between inequality and contributions to a public good by examining national volunteering rates (RQ4).... view less
Keywords
EVS; inequality; social inequality; income; income situation; low income; cooperation; willingness to cooperate; distribution; nonmarket good; social norm; contract; difference in income
Classification
Sociology of Economics
General Sociology, Basic Research, General Concepts and History of Sociology, Sociological Theories
Free Keywords
gini; public goods game; civic norms; EVS 2008
Document language
English
Publication Year
2023
Page/Pages
p. 1-10
Journal
Current Research in Ecological and Social Psychology, 4 (2023)
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cresp.2023.100112
ISSN
2666-6227
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed