Head-enders as stationary bandits in asymmetric commons: Comparing irrigation experiments in the laboratory and the field

► Field and laboratory experiments on irrigation systems are performed. ► Experiments test whether participants cooperate in an asymmetric commons dilemma. ► In both studies we find that participants conditionally cooperate. ► Head-enders act in both studies as stationary bandits. ► This result is robust across different social and ecological contexts.