On the Formation of Coalitions to Provide Public Goods - Experimental Evidence from the Lab / Astrid Dannenberg, Andreas Lange, Bodo Sturm.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dannenberg, Astrid.

Contributor:

National Bureau of Economic Research.

Lange, Andreas.

Sturm, Bodo.

Series:

Working Paper Series (National Bureau of Economic Research) no. w15967.

NBER working paper series no. w15967

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource: illustrations (black and white);

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Mass. National Bureau of Economic Research 2010.

Summary:

The provision of public goods often relies on voluntary contributions and cooperation. While most of the experimental literature focuses on individual contributions, many real-world problems involve the formation of institutions among subgroups (coalitions) of players. International agreements serve as one example. This paper experimentally tests theory on the formation of coalitions in different institutions and compares those to a voluntary contribution mechanism. The experiment confirms the rather pessimistic conclusions from the theory: only few players form a coalition when the institution prescribes the full internalization of mutual benefits of members. Contrary to theory, coalitions that try to reduce the free-riding incentives by requiring less provision from their members, do not attract additional members. Substantial efficiency gains occur, however, both along the extensive and intensive margin when coalition members can each suggest a minimum contribution level with the smallest common denominator being binding. The experiment thereby shows that the acceptance of institutions depends on how terms of coalitions are reached.

Notes:

Print version record

May 2010.