%0 Report
        %A Dohmen, Thomas
%A Meyer, Frauke
%A Walkowitz, Gari
        %T Basic Needs Satisfaction as a Fundamental Distributive Principle: Evidence from the Lab and the Field
        %D 2026
        %8 2026 Feb
        %I Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        %C Bonn
        %7 IZA Discussion Paper
        %N 18409
        %U https://www.iza.org/index.php/publications/dp18409
        %X This paper provides clear evidence that concerns for basic needs satisfaction (BNS) represent a distinct distributional motive. Using a unified theoretical and experimental framework across five dictator-game experiments in Germany and Georgia (N=446), we disentangle BNS from motives such as maximin, selfishness, efficiency, generosity, and envy. A substantial share of participants displayed BNS-driven choices and were willing to forgo income and efficiency to satisfy others’ basic needs. BNS remained robust across contexts, incentive schemes, and countries, and increased when needs satisfaction had strategic relevance. The results highlight the importance of BNS for understanding distributional preferences and policy design.
        %K basic needs
%K redistribution
%K distributional motives
%K maximin
%K public policy
%K field experiment
%K laboratory experiment