Cooperating to Resist Coercion: An Experimental Study

38 Pages Posted: 3 Feb 2011

See all articles by Mark Rider

Mark Rider

Georgia State University - Department of Economics

Lucy F. Ackert

Kennesaw State University - Michael J. Coles College of Business

Ann B. Gillette

Kennesaw State University - Michael J. Coles College of Business; Federal Reserve Banks - Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Date Written: January 31, 2011

Abstract

This study sheds light on the difficulties people face in cooperating to resist coercion. We adapt a threshold public goods game to investigate whether people are able to cooperate to resist coercion despite individual incentives to free-ride. Behavior in this resistance game is similar to that observed in multi-period public goods games. Specifically, we observe out-of-equilibrium outcomes and a decrease in successful resistance in later periods of a session compared to earlier ones. Nevertheless, cooperation remains relatively high even in the later periods. Finally, we find that increasing the resistance threshold has a substantial negative effect on the probability of successful resistance.

Keywords: Coercion, Equity, Social preferences

JEL Classification: C91, C92, D63, H21

Suggested Citation

Rider, Mark and Ackert, Lucy F. and Gillette, Ann Brewer, Cooperating to Resist Coercion: An Experimental Study (January 31, 2011). Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Research Paper Series No. 11-06, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1754063 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1754063

Mark Rider (Contact Author)

Georgia State University - Department of Economics ( email )

35 Broad Street
Atlanta, GA 30303-3083
United States

Lucy F. Ackert

Kennesaw State University - Michael J. Coles College of Business ( email )

1000 Chastain Road
Department of Economics and Finance
Kennesaw, GA 30144
United States
770-423-6111 (Phone)
770-499-3209 (Fax)

Ann Brewer Gillette

Kennesaw State University - Michael J. Coles College of Business ( email )

1000 Chastain Road
Kennesaw, GA 30144
United States

Federal Reserve Banks - Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

1000 Peachtree Street N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30309-4470
United States

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