Inequality, trust and growth: An experimental study

Abstract

In a three player dynamic public goods experiment, social output today determines production possibilities tomorrow.In each period, players choose to sabotage, to co-operate, or to play best response.Sabotage harms social output and growth.Mutual co-operation maximises both.The property rights to social output are distributed unequally.Extent and skew of inequality are varied. Empirical studies indicate a negative impact of inequality on trust and growth. We observe equilibrium play in most cases.There is also substantial co-operation, but little sabotage.Our exogenous variations of inequality are neutral to growth, neither negatively correlated to co-operation, nor positively correlated to sabotage.public goods;game theory