Material Scarcity and Unethical Economic Behavior: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Christian T. Elbæk; Panagiotis Mitkidis; Lene Aarøe; Tobias Otterbring

Abstract

Individuals around the globe experience different forms of resource scarcity. As experiences of scarcity has been found to make individuals more risk-taking and focused on regaining resources in the short-term, a growing body of research has investigated how scarcity affects moral economic behavior. Yet, findings remain mixed and at times contradictory. In this pre- registered meta-analysis, we evaluate how material resource scarcity affects moral economic behavior. We analyze a comprehensive dataset (k = 44, N = 6,921) across four distinct types of scarcity: financial scarcity, physiological scarcity, scarcity reminders, and lower social class. Our findings show that acute scarcity significantly increases the propensity to engage in unethical behavior (gfinancial = .24, gphysiological = .39, greminders = .32). Importantly, we find no evidence that low social class affect unethical behavior (gsocial class = .02). We discuss how these findings advance our understanding of the psychological and moral consequences of scarcity.

Original language	English
Publication date	24 Jan 2023
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 24 Jan 2023
Event	Subjective Probability Utility and Decision Making conference - WU Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna, Austria Duration: 20 Aug 2023 → 24 Aug 2023 https://spudm2023.com

Conference

Conference	Subjective Probability Utility and Decision Making conference
Location	WU Vienna University of Economics and Business
Country/Territory	Austria
City	Vienna
Period	20/08/2023 → 24/08/2023
Internet address	https://spudm2023.com

Keywords

resource scarcity
socioeconomic status
morality
unethical economic behavior
meta-analysis

The 29th Biennial Subjective Probability Utility and Decision Making conference (SPUDM)
Elbæk, C. T. (Speaker)
20 Aug 2023 → 24 Aug 2023
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in or organisation af a conference

Cite this

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title = "Material Scarcity and Unethical Economic Behavior: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis",

abstract = "Individuals around the globe experience different forms of resource scarcity. As experiences of scarcity has been found to make individuals more risk-taking and focused on regaining resources in the short-term, a growing body of research has investigated how scarcity affects moral economic behavior. Yet, findings remain mixed and at times contradictory. In this pre- registered meta-analysis, we evaluate how material resource scarcity affects moral economic behavior. We analyze a comprehensive dataset (k = 44, N = 6,921) across four distinct types of scarcity: financial scarcity, physiological scarcity, scarcity reminders, and lower social class. Our findings show that acute scarcity significantly increases the propensity to engage in unethical behavior (gfinancial = .24, gphysiological = .39, greminders = .32). Importantly, we find no evidence that low social class affect unethical behavior (gsocial class = .02). We discuss how these findings advance our understanding of the psychological and moral consequences of scarcity.",

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TY - ABST

T1 - Material Scarcity and Unethical Economic Behavior: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

AU - Elbæk, Christian T.

AU - Mitkidis, Panagiotis

AU - Aarøe, Lene

AU - Otterbring, Tobias

PY - 2023/1/24

Y1 - 2023/1/24

N2 - Individuals around the globe experience different forms of resource scarcity. As experiences of scarcity has been found to make individuals more risk-taking and focused on regaining resources in the short-term, a growing body of research has investigated how scarcity affects moral economic behavior. Yet, findings remain mixed and at times contradictory. In this pre- registered meta-analysis, we evaluate how material resource scarcity affects moral economic behavior. We analyze a comprehensive dataset (k = 44, N = 6,921) across four distinct types of scarcity: financial scarcity, physiological scarcity, scarcity reminders, and lower social class. Our findings show that acute scarcity significantly increases the propensity to engage in unethical behavior (gfinancial = .24, gphysiological = .39, greminders = .32). Importantly, we find no evidence that low social class affect unethical behavior (gsocial class = .02). We discuss how these findings advance our understanding of the psychological and moral consequences of scarcity.

AB - Individuals around the globe experience different forms of resource scarcity. As experiences of scarcity has been found to make individuals more risk-taking and focused on regaining resources in the short-term, a growing body of research has investigated how scarcity affects moral economic behavior. Yet, findings remain mixed and at times contradictory. In this pre- registered meta-analysis, we evaluate how material resource scarcity affects moral economic behavior. We analyze a comprehensive dataset (k = 44, N = 6,921) across four distinct types of scarcity: financial scarcity, physiological scarcity, scarcity reminders, and lower social class. Our findings show that acute scarcity significantly increases the propensity to engage in unethical behavior (gfinancial = .24, gphysiological = .39, greminders = .32). Importantly, we find no evidence that low social class affect unethical behavior (gsocial class = .02). We discuss how these findings advance our understanding of the psychological and moral consequences of scarcity.

KW - resource scarcity

KW - socioeconomic status

KW - morality

KW - unethical economic behavior

KW - meta-analysis

M3 - Conference abstract for conference

T2 - Subjective Probability Utility and Decision Making conference

Y2 - 20 August 2023 through 24 August 2023

ER -

Material Scarcity and Unethical Economic Behavior: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Conference

Keywords

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Activities

The 29th Biennial Subjective Probability Utility and Decision Making conference (SPUDM)

Cite this