Persuadable or Dissuadable Altruists? The Impact of Information of Recipient Characteristics on Giving

Datos Bibliográficos

ID9712195
AutoresLata Gangadharan (0000-0003-3827-3090, Monash University), Philip J Grossman (0000-0003-2581-883X, Monash University, Australia & University of Alaska Anchorage , USA), Lingbo Huang (0000-0003-2713-6867, Shandong University, autor de correspondencia), C Matthew Leister (0000-0002-2324-218X, Monash University), Erte Xiao (0000-0002-3920-7979, Monash University)
Año2023
Volumen133
Número656
Páginas2925-2948
Fecha de publicación2023-10-06
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaThe Economic Journal (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0013-0133 • E-ISSN: 1468-0297
EditorialOxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1093/ej/uead062
OpenAlexW4385778621
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas3
Referencias citadas21

We investigate how information about recipients’ characteristics affects donors’ giving as opposed to when no information is available. In a rational model in which information causes a donor to update their assessment of the recipient's deservingness, we introduce the idea that altruism can be ‘persuadable’ (‘dissuadable’) by information about positive (negative) characteristics. We report data from three experiments in which donors are provided information regarding three recipient characteristics: alcoholism, attending courses, and disability. Across different characteristics, our results are broadly consistent with the predictions of persuadable altruism. Overall, we find a positive net impact of providing information on aggregate giving

Aggregate (composite · Altruism (biology · Economics · Microeconomics · Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies · Nonprofit Sector and Volunteering · Psychology · Social Psychology