Micromotives, Microstructure, and Macrobehavior: The Case of Voluntary Cooperation
Journal
Journal of Mathematical Sociology
ISSN
0022-250X
ISSN-Digital
1545-5874
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2011-02-10
Author(s)
Gächter, Simon
;
Thoeni, Christian
Abstract
How micromotives, the microstructural features of interactions, and macrobehavior are related is a fundamental question in all social sciences. In this article we argue that laboratory experiments are a useful tool to study this question, because the experimenter can measure motivations, manipulate microstructures, and sometimes even exploit variation in the macrosocial environment. We illustrate the experimental approach with the help of four examples from the context of voluntary cooperation. The examples (from previous and new experiments) illustrate the link between individual pro-social motives and wage formation in labor markets, the inevitability of the ‘‘Tragedy of the Commons,'' and two potential ways to avoid the tragedy: sorting and punishment
Language
English
Keywords
gift exchange
laboratory experiments
macrobehavior
macrosocial background
micromotives
microstructure
punishment
reciprocity
sorting
voluntary cooperation
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Publisher place
London UK
Volume
35
Number
1-3
Start page
26
End page
65
Pages
40
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Eprints ID
115315
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Format
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