Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics
Memorandum,
Oslo University, Department of Economics
No 16/2007: Reluctant Recyclers: Social Interaction in Responsibility Ascription
Kjell Arne Brekke (), Gorm Kipperberg () and Karine Nyborg ()
Additional contact information
Kjell Arne Brekke: Dept. of Economics, University of Oslo, Postal: Department of Economics, University of Oslo, P.O Box 1095 Blindern, N-0317 Oslo, Norway
Gorm Kipperberg: Colorado State University, Postal: Department of Economics, University of Oslo, P.O Box 1095 Blindern, N-0317 Oslo, Norway
Karine Nyborg: Dept. of Economics, University of Oslo, Postal: Department of Economics, University of Oslo, P.O Box 1095 Blindern, N-0317 Oslo, Norway
Abstract: Several studies have demonstrated that individual contributions to public goods are increasing in others’ contributions. The underlying causes for this, however, are not yet fully understood. We present a model of duty-orientation in which moral responsibility is learned through observations of others’ behavior. Since, in our model, responsibility is a burden, we hypothesize that individuals will be reluctant to accept responsibility based on uncertain information. Econometric analysis of data from a survey on households’ glass recycling indicates that perceived responsibility is a major determinant for reported recycling; that responsibility ascription is influenced by beliefs about others’ behavior; and that people are indeed reluctant to accept responsibility based on uncertain information.
Keywords: Voluntary contributions; duty-orientation; recycling; joint FIML estimation
38 pages, February 2, 2009
Price: 16/2007
Full text files
Memo-16-2007.pdf
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