Unrealistic Optimism about Exogenous Events: An Experimental Test

An experiment is designed to test if individuals show (unrealistic) optimism when determining their subjective probabilities about exogenous circumstances. Subjects in the control group make an informed guess about a number, under a payment scheme that rewards close guesses. In the treatment group, subjects' payments depend on the actual number as well as on the closeness of the guess, and they are thus given an incentive to guess optimistically. The data suggests that there is an optimistic bias.optimism; unrealistic optimism; wishful thinking; wish fulfilment.

Discrimination by Gender and Social Distance

We examine experimentally how a person's generosity depends on the sex of that person, on the sex of the person who is the target of the generous act, and on the degree of anonymity between the interacting parties. In our data fewer men than women give non-zero amounts; men receive less than women; and less is given when subjects receive money publicly on stage than when payments are private. The results shed light on gender-related selfishness and discrimination, and suggest that it may be problematic to organize experimental findings in terms of social distance.discrimination; gender; social distance; anonymity

Young Liberals and Old Conservatives - Inequality, Mobility and Redistribution

The paper examines the impact of income inequality and mobility on income redistribution in a modified median voter model where redistributive conflict takes place both between educational groups and age-groups. The effects of inequality and mobility are not unambiguous but depend on factors such as how mobility changes in different groups and causes of inequality. We also examine the effect of the length of electoral periods on redistribution and welfare for different groups and allow for majority voting on the length of electoral periods. Finally, we extend the model to encompass retirement and baby booms.Inequality; mobility; income redistribution; median voter; age-earnings profiles

Gender in Committees

How does a group’s gender composition influence its decisions? Economists have found women to be more generous and egalitarian than men, so one might expect groups with more women to be more generous/egalitarian. Group polarization, whereby discussions amplify preexisting attitudes (a phenomenon well-established in psychology), would enhance that effect. We report experimental evidence. Femalemajority groups are more generous/egalitarian than male-majority groups,ut female unisex groups are not the most generous/egalitarian. We discuss how these findings accord with our derived conjectures, and what can be learned regarding the influence of gender composition on committee decision-making more generally.gender; groups; generosity; group polarization

Young Liberals and Old Conservatives - Inequality, Mobility and Redistribution

The paper examines the impact of income inequality and mobility on income redistribution in a modified median voter model where redistributive conflict takes place both between educational groups and age-groups. The effects of inequality and mobility are not unambiguous but depend on factors such as how mobility changes in different groups and causes of inequality. We also examine the effect of the length of electoral periods on redistribution and welfare for different groups and allow for majority voting on the length of electoral periods. Finally, we extend the model to encompass retirement and baby booms.inequality, mobility, income redistribution, median voter, age-earnings profiles

Constructing Gender in the Economics Lab

Several experimental studies on altruism have found women to be more generous than men. We investigate whether observed gender gaps in generosity can be explained by experimental setting, where some settings are more conducive than others to activating gender identity and social norms. In a dictator game we study priming along two dimensions: 1) some subjects enter their gender on the first page of the questionnaire (Pre) while others enter their gender on the last page (Post) and 2) some subjects are seated in single-sex rooms (Homogeneous) while others are seated in gender-mixed rooms (Mixed). It turns out that gender differences occur (women are more generous than men) only for the combination Pre and Mixed. The effect is driven by males: men are sensitive to priming, while women are not.Gender roles; social norms; altruism; generosity; dictator game; priming

When do Countries Introduce Competition Policy?

This paper first presents stylised evidence showing how the date of the introduction of competition policy is correlated with country size. Smaller countries tend to adopt competition policy later. We thereafter present a simple theoretical model with countries of different size and firms competing à la Cournot. The predictions of the model are consistent with the empirical regularity presented. An implication of our model is that globalisation may give very different incentives regarding competition policy for small and large developing countries.Competition policy; anti-trust; trade costs

Kön och preferenser i ett slumpmässigt urval - Kombinerat experiment och surveyundersökning med fokus på kön och ekonomiska preferenser, bortfall från postalenkät

The data is from an experimental study of a simple random sample of about 1000 adults from the Swedish population. The sample is similar by gender, age, income and education to this population. In addition, we have a high response rate, and can detect no differences between non-response and response groups by the comparison variables we have access to. In all relevant respects, we have a representative sample of the Swedish population, and one of the larger samples in the experimental economics literature. The experimental data measures preferences in a broad range of standard incentivized decisions related to altruism, fairness, cooperation, trust, coordination, risk and competitiveness. Different treatments vary the salience of the participant’s own gender, as well as the gender of the counterpart. While gender differences in previous experimental studies typically are studied without controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, we have data on age, gender income and education and other sociodemographic variables. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore gender differences in a wide range of economic preferences in a representative sample. We will use a battery of standard games typically used in experimental economics and psychology, as well as common measures of risk preferences, competitiveness and time preferences. We will explore the same games and measures in three contexts, i.e with three settings, designed to explore different aspects of potential gender differences. These three settings will be investigated using three different treatments for each game and measure. The survey is an OSU of the Swedish population aged 18-73 years from 2011-08-19. It has been implemented by two methods, telephone interviews and distribution of printed questionnaires. Of the sample, 800 respondents answered by postal questionnaire. Loss Accounting: The size of the sample was 800 to the postal questionnaire. Gross Selection: 800. Net Selection (correct address): 763. Submitted surveys: 374. Refusal - Do not participate, including submitted blank questionnaire: 8. For late-breaking surveys: 11. No contact: 370.Data är från en experimentell studie av ett obundet slumpmässigt urval av cirka 1000 vuxna från den svenska befolkningen. Urvalet överensstämmer med populationen efter kön, ålder, inkomst och utbildning. Svarsfrekvensen är hög och vi finner inga skillnader mellan bortfallsgrupper och svarsgrupper för de jämförelsevariabler vi har tillgång till. I alla relevanta avseenden har vi ett representativt urval av den svenska befolkningen, och ett av de större urvalen i den vetenskapliga litteraturen inom experimentell ekonomi. De experimentella data mäter preferenser i ett brett spektrum av standardbeslut som rör altruism, rättvisa, samarbete, förtroende, samordning, risk och konkurrensvillighet. Olika behandlingar varierar deltagarens genderidentitet, liksom motpartens kön. I tidigare experimentella studier studeras könsskillnader ofta utan att kontrollera för sociodemografiska egenskaper; här finns uppgifter om ålder, kön, inkomst och utbildning och andra sociodemografiska variabler. Syfte: Vi vill studera könsskillnader i preferenser i ett representativt urval, med tre olika experimentstrukturer. De flesta experimentella studier görs med universitetsstudenter som deltagare. Projektets syfte är att närmare undersöka i vilken utsträckning resultaten från experimentella studier med universitetsstudenter även föreligger i ett urval som är representativt för befolkningen som helhet. Detta har inte tidigare studerats. Undersökningen är ett OSU av Sveriges befolkning i åldrarna 18-73 år från 2011-08-19. Den har genomförts med två metoder, telefonintervjuer och utskick av tryckta enkäter. Bortfallsredovisning: Storleken på urvalet var 800 till postalenkäten. Bruttourval: 800. Nettourval (korrekt address): 763. Inkomna enkäter: 374. Vägran - Vill ej delta inklusive inskickad blank enkät: 8. För sent inkomna enkäter: 11. Ingen kontakt: 370

Kön och preferenser i ett slumpmässigt urval - Kombinerat experiment och surveyundersökning med fokus på kön och ekonomiska preferenser, postalenkät

The data is from an experimental study of a simple random sample of about 1000 adults from the Swedish population. The sample is similar by gender, age, income and education to this population. In addition, we have a high response rate, and can detect no differences between non-response and response groups by the comparison variables we have access to. In all relevant respects, we have a representative sample of the Swedish population, and one of the larger samples in the experimental economics literature. The experimental data measures preferences in a broad range of standard incentivized decisions related to altruism, fairness, cooperation, trust, coordination, risk and competitiveness. Different treatments vary the salience of the participant’s own gender, as well as the gender of the counterpart. While gender differences in previous experimental studies typically are studied without controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, we have data on age, gender income and education and other sociodemographic variables. Purpose: The purpose of this study is to explore gender differences in a wide range of economic preferences in a representative sample. We will use a battery of standard games typically used in experimental economics and psychology, as well as common measures of risk preferences, competitiveness and time preferences. We will explore the same games and measures in three contexts, i.e with three settings, designed to explore different aspects of potential gender differences. These three settings will be investigated using three different treatments for each game and measure. The survey is an OSU of the Swedish population aged 18-73 years from 2011-08-19. It has been implemented by two methods, telephone interviews and distribution of printed questionnaires. Of the sample, 800 respondents answered by postal questionnaire.Data är från en experimentell studie av ett obundet slumpmässigt urval av cirka 1000 vuxna från den svenska befolkningen. Urvalet överensstämmer med populationen efter kön, ålder, inkomst och utbildning. Svarsfrekvensen är hög och vi finner inga skillnader mellan bortfallsgrupper och svarsgrupper för de jämförelsevariabler vi har tillgång till. I alla relevanta avseenden har vi ett representativt urval av den svenska befolkningen, och ett av de större urvalen i den vetenskapliga litteraturen inom experimentell ekonomi. De experimentella data mäter preferenser i ett brett spektrum av standardbeslut som rör altruism, rättvisa, samarbete, förtroende, samordning, risk och konkurrensvillighet. Olika behandlingar varierar deltagarens genderidentitet, liksom motpartens kön. I tidigare experimentella studier studeras könsskillnader ofta utan att kontrollera för sociodemografiska egenskaper; här finns uppgifter om ålder, kön, inkomst och utbildning och andra sociodemografiska variabler. Syfte: Vi vill studera könsskillnader i preferenser i ett representativt urval, med tre olika experimentstrukturer. De flesta experimentella studier görs med universitetsstudenter som deltagare. Projektets syfte är att närmare undersöka i vilken utsträckning resultaten från experimentella studier med universitetsstudenter även föreligger i ett urval som är representativt för befolkningen som helhet. Detta har inte tidigare studerats. Undersökningen är ett OSU av Sveriges befolkning i åldrarna 18-73 år från 2011-08-19. Den har genomförts med två metoder, telefonintervjuer och utskick av tryckta enkäter. Storleken på urvalet var 800 till postalenkäten. För den postala delen genomfördes ett grundutskick med en beskrivning av undersökningen, en tryckt enkät samt ett förfrankerat svarskuvert. Därefter skickades tre påminnelser ut även dessa med enkät samt svarskuvert. Efter avslutade intervjuer och inkomna postala svar har en matchning genomförts av beslut, motpart och arvodering enligt angiven beskrivning. Ett brev har därefter skickats till intervjupersonerna med besked om vilket beslut de arvoderas för, arvodessumman, samt en kontaktperson vid Stockholms universitet och en personlig kod som skall anges vid arvodering