I'd Lie for You

12 Pages Posted: 7 Jan 2019 Last revised: 21 Jun 2019

See all articles by Georgia Michailidou

Georgia Michailidou

New York University (NYU) - New York University, Abu Dhabi

Valentina Rotondi

University of Oxford

Date Written: December 22, 2018

Abstract

We examine experimentally whether individuals engage in altruistic lying, and whether they are more inclined to engage in altruistic lying for in-groups rather than out-groups. We embark in a lab-in-the-field experiment to take advantage of a naturally occurring in-group – out-group formation of Southerner and Northerner Italians. The cultural variations between Northern and Southern Italy appear to trigger different behavior across the two participant pools. Although neither Northerners nor Southerners are willing to lie to help an out-group, the latter are significantly more likely to lie to help ‘one of their people’.

Keywords: Altruistic lies, In-group favoritism, Lying, Lab-in-the-Field Experiment, Italy

JEL Classification: C93, C99 , R1

Suggested Citation

Michailidou, Georgia and Rotondi, Valentina, I'd Lie for You (December 22, 2018). European Economic Review, Vol. 118, 2019, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3305524 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3305524

Georgia Michailidou (Contact Author)

New York University (NYU) - New York University, Abu Dhabi ( email )

PO Box 129188
Abu Dhabi
United Arab Emirates

Valentina Rotondi

University of Oxford ( email )

Mansfield Road
Oxford, Oxfordshire OX1 4AU
United Kingdom

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