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

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.