Asymmetrical redistribution over gains and losses – the role of other-regarding preferences and moral rules

Pérez, Ernesto María Gavassa, and Michalis Drouvelis. In Preparation. “Asymmetrical redistribution over gains and losses – the role of other-regarding preferences and moral rules.”
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In this paper we study the asymmetry in redistributive behaviour, as measured by donations in dictator games, over gains and losses. According to classical models of other-regarding preferences, no asymmetry should exist as far as stakes and the redistribution level are kept constant in both domains. Including a parameter of loss aversion is able to predict more selfish behaviour under losses; but, crucially, the predictive success of such models depend on subjects with higher levels of loss aversion being more selfish over losses, which need not hold empirically. In a pre-registered study, we analyse at the individual level the predictive power of several loss-aversion-augmented models of other-regarding preferences and two new models of moral rules.

Last updated on 10/26/2022