Giving according to GARP: an experimental test of the consistency of preferences for altruism

摘要

Subjects in economic laboratory experiments have clearly expressed an interest in behaving unselfishly. They cooperate in prisoners' dilemma games, they give to public goods, and they leave money on the table when bargaining. While some are tempted to call this behavior irrational, economists should ask if this unselfish and altruistic behavior is indeed self-interested. That is, can subjects' concerns for altruism or fairness be expressed in the economists' language of a well-behaved preference ordering? If so, then behavior is consistent and meets our definition of rationality.