Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
5034450 Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization 2017 8 Pages PDF
Abstract

•We investigate the role of risk preferences in prosocial behavior.•We use separate measures for risk attitudes over own and others' payoff.•Risk aversion and prosocial behavior under certainty are correlated.•Own risk aversion leads to a strong reduction in giving when own payoff becomes risky.•Giving under risk declines when the receiver is not (believed to be) risk-averse.

By means of a laboratory experiment we investigate the role of risk preferences for prosocial behavior. Modifying the way the decision-maker or the recipient are exposed to risk, our design allows to identify how risk preferences impact giving-decisions. By measuring the decision-makers' risk preferences regarding both their own as well as the recipients' payoff, we generate new insights into how social preference theories may extend to risky situations.

Related Topics
Social Sciences and Humanities Economics, Econometrics and Finance Economics and Econometrics
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