Download This PaperStrategic Choices for Redistribution and the Veil of Ignorance: Theory and Experimental Evidence
52 Pages Posted: 16 Oct 2013
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Strategic Choices for Redistribution and the Veil of Ignorance: Theory and Experimental Evidence
Date Written: October 16, 2013
Abstract
We provide experimental evidence on the emergence of redistributive societies. Individuals first vote on redistribution by feet and then learn their productivity and invest. We vary the individuals’ information about their productivities at the time when they choose a distribution rule and find that there is more redistribution behind a veil of ignorance than under full information. However, the scope of redistribution is less sensitive towards the degree of uncertainty than predicted. For all degrees of uncertainty, we find a coexistence of libertarianism and redistribution as well as incomplete sorting, so that heterogeneous redistribution communities turn out to be sustainable.
Keywords: constitutional choice, experimental economics, redistribution, veil of ignorance, voting by feet
JEL Classification: C910, D020, D630, H240, K000
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation
Anke Gerber (Contact Author)
Universität Hamburg ( email )
Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Sciences
Von-Melle-Park 5
Hamburg, 20146
Germany
Max Planck Institute for Research on Collective Goods ( email )
Kurt-Schumacher-Str. 10
D-53113 Bonn, 53113
Germany
49 228 9141679 (Phone)
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HOME PAGE: http://www.coll.mpg.de/nicklisch.html
Stefan Voigt
University of Hamburg - Institute of Law & Economics ( email )
Johnsallee 35
Hamburg, 20148
Germany
+49-40-428385782 (Phone)
+49-40-428386794 (Fax)
CESifo (Center for Economic Studies and Ifo Institute)
Poschinger Str. 5
Munich, DE-81679
Germany