TY  - RPRT
        AU  - Thöni, Christian
AU  - Gächter, Simon
        TI  - Peer Effects and Social Preferences in Voluntary Cooperation
        PY  - 2012/Jan/
        PB  - Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)
        CY  - Bonn
        T2  - IZA Discussion Paper
        IS  - 6277
        UR  - https://www.iza.org/publications/dp6277
        AB  - Substantial evidence suggests the behavioral relevance of social preferences and also the importance of social influence effects ("peer effects"). Yet, little is known about how peer effects and social preferences are related. In a three-person gift-exchange experiment we find causal evidence for peer effects in voluntary cooperation: agents' efforts are positively related despite the absence of material payoff interdependencies. We confront this result with major theories of social preferences which predict that efforts are unrelated, or negatively related. Some theories allow for positively-related efforts but cannot explain most observations. Conformism, norm following and considerations of social esteem are candidate explanations.
        KW  - conformism
KW  - social preferences
KW  - voluntary cooperation
KW  - peer effects
KW  - reflection problem
KW  - gift exchange
KW  - social norms
KW  - social esteem
        ER  -