Group interaction, heterogeneity, rules, and co-operative behaviour: Evidence from a common-pool resource experiment in South Africa and Namibia

We present econometric evidence of how sociodemographic characteristics, economic background, group effects, and dynamic personal and group interactions influence the co-operative behaviour of individuals in a social dilemma situation. The data are from a framed common-pool resource experiment conducted in Namibian and South African farming communities. Our estimates suggest complex but stable social dynamics within groups over the course of the game. We conclude that group interactions may be significantly influenced by the degree of sociodemographic heterogeneity. Our study shows that the introduction of rules matters, as it improves co-operation, but that the concrete shape of such rules may be less important than the underlying social interaction.

► We study co-operative behaviour in a framed common-pool resource experiment.
► Co-operative behaviour is affected by sociodemographic characteristics and participants’ heterogeneity.
► Static and dynamic personal and group interactions affect behaviour.
► We find complex but stable social group dynamics over the course of the game.
► Concrete institutional rules are less important than social interaction.