In this study, we examine differences between Chinese and Americans commercial arbitrators. We predict, and find, that Chinese arbitrators make higher awards for inter-firm contract violations than Americans. This difference is explained by differences in attributions. Prior theory suggests, and we find, that Chinese tend to have more internal attributions for events when observing group actions. When evidence provided to arbitrators is mixed (evidence is provided for both internal and external attributions), American arbitrators pay more attention to external causes, while Chinese arbitrators pay more attention to internal causes.
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