On your own side of the fence

TY - JOUR

T1 - On your own side of the fence

AU - Gagnon, Nickolas

PY - 2024/10

Y1 - 2024/10

N2 - This article investigates whether identifying redistribution recipients of the same or another ethnicity through short interactions affects redistribution. In a laboratory experiment, highly-paid participants (“the rich”) are exogenously assigned to interact with poorly-paid participants (“the poor”) of different ethnicities or with other highly-paid participants. Participants then propose redistribution schemes affecting a larger group. I report that identifying the poor increases redistribution—regardless of ethnic differences. Moreover, I examine the avoidance of interactions with the poor and with those of another ethnicity and the effect of identification on participants who avoid such interactions.

AB - This article investigates whether identifying redistribution recipients of the same or another ethnicity through short interactions affects redistribution. In a laboratory experiment, highly-paid participants (“the rich”) are exogenously assigned to interact with poorly-paid participants (“the poor”) of different ethnicities or with other highly-paid participants. Participants then propose redistribution schemes affecting a larger group. I report that identifying the poor increases redistribution—regardless of ethnic differences. Moreover, I examine the avoidance of interactions with the poor and with those of another ethnicity and the effect of identification on participants who avoid such interactions.

KW - Ethnic discrimination

KW - Experiment

KW - Identifiable victim effect

KW - Social interactions

KW - Social preferences

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85200586285&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.jebo.2024.106678

DO - 10.1016/j.jebo.2024.106678

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85200586285

SN - 0167-2681

VL - 226

JO - Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization

JF - Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization

M1 - 106678

ER -