Counter-Punishment, Communication, and Cooperation among Partners.

ABSTRACT: We study how communication affects cooperation in an experimental public goods environment with punishment and counter-punishment opportunities. Participants interacted over 30 rounds in fixed groups with fixed identifiers that allowed them to trace other group members' behavior over time. The two dimensions of communication we study are asking for a specific contribution level and having to express oneself when choosing to counter-punish. We conduct four experimental treatments, all involving a contribution stage, a punishment stage, and a counter-punishment stage in each round. In the first treatment communication is not possible at any of the stages. The second treatment allows participants to ask for a contribution level at the punishment stage and in the third treatment participants a

SUBMITTER: Andrighetto G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4821197 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature