TY - JOUR

T1 - The Structure and Behavioural Effects of Revealed Social Identity Preferences

AU - Hett, Florian

AU - Mechtel, Mario

AU - Kröll, Markus

PY - 2020/11/23

Y1 - 2020/11/23

N2 - A large body of evidence shows that social identity affects behaviour. However, our understanding of the substantial variation of these behavioural effects is still limited. We use a novel laboratory experiment to measure differences in preferences for social identities as a potential source of behavioural heterogeneity. Facing a trade-off between monetary payments and belonging to different groups, individuals are willing to forego significant earnings to avoid belonging to certain groups. We then show that individual differences in these foregone earnings correspond to the differences in discriminatory behaviour towards these groups. Our results illustrate the importance of considering individual heterogeneity to fully understand the behavioural effects of social identity.

AB - A large body of evidence shows that social identity affects behaviour. However, our understanding of the substantial variation of these behavioural effects is still limited. We use a novel laboratory experiment to measure differences in preferences for social identities as a potential source of behavioural heterogeneity. Facing a trade-off between monetary payments and belonging to different groups, individuals are willing to forego significant earnings to avoid belonging to certain groups. We then show that individual differences in these foregone earnings correspond to the differences in discriminatory behaviour towards these groups. Our results illustrate the importance of considering individual heterogeneity to fully understand the behavioural effects of social identity.

KW - Economics

KW - Laboratory

KW - Individual Behavior

KW - Group behavior

KW - Intertemporal Choice

KW - Life Cycle Models and Saving

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85100980058&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1093/ej/ueaa055

DO - 10.1093/ej/ueaa055

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 130

SP - 2569

EP - 2595

JO - The Economic Journal

JF - The Economic Journal

SN - 0013-0133

IS - 632

ER -