Destructive Behavior in a Fragile Public Good Game

Maximilian Hoyer (), Nadège Bault (), Ben Loerakker and Frans van Winden ()
Additional contact information
Maximilian Hoyer: University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Economics and Business, CREED, Roeterstraat 11, 1018 WB Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Nadège Bault: Université de Lyon, Lyon, F-69007, France ; CNRS, GATE Lyon St Etienne,F-69130 Ecully, France
Ben Loerakker: University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Economics and Business, CREED, Roeterstraat 11, 1018 WB Amsterdam, The Netherlands

No 1429, Working Papers from Groupe d'Analyse et de Théorie Economique Lyon St-Étienne (GATE Lyon St-Étienne), Université de Lyon

Abstract: Socially destructive behavior in a public good environment - like damaging public goods - is an underexposed phenomenon in economics. In an experiment we investigate whether such behavior can be influenced by the very nature of an environment. To that purpose we use a Fragile Public Good (FPG) game which puts the opportunity for destructive behavior (taking) on a level playing field with constructive behavior (contributing). We find substantial evidence of destructive decisions, sometimes leading to sour relationships characterized by persistent hurtful behavior. While positive framing induces fewer destructive decisions, shifting the selfish Nash towards minimal taking doubles its share to more than 20%. Female subjects are found to be more inclined to use destructive decisions. Finally, subjects’ social value orientation turns out to be partly predictive of (at least initial) destructive choices.

Keywords: public good; destructive behavior; spite; relationship; laboratory experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C9 H4 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-cbe and nep-exp
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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ftp://ftp.gate.cnrs.fr/RePEc/2014/1429.pdf (application/pdf)

Related works:
Journal Article: Destructive behavior in a Fragile Public Good game (2014)
Working Paper: Destructive Behavior in a Fragile Public Good Game (2014)
Working Paper: Destructive behavior in a Fragile Public Good game (2014)
Working Paper: Destructive Behavior in a Fragile Public Good Game (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gat:wpaper:1429

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