Charitable giving among females and males: An empirical test of the competitive altruism hypothesis

Author(s)
Robert Böhm, Tobias Regner
Abstract

We conduct a real-effort task experiment where subjects’ performance translates into a donation to a charity. In a within-subjects design we vary the visibility of the donation (no/private/public feedback). Confirming previous studies, we find that subjects’ performance increases, that is, they donate more to charity, when their relative performance is made public. In line with the competitive altruism hypothesis, a biology-based explanation for status-seeking behavior, especially male subjects increase performance in the public setting.

Organisation(s)
External organisation(s)
Universität Erfurt, Max-Planck-Institut für Ökonomik
Journal
Journal of Bioeconomics
Volume
15
Pages
251–267
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10818-013-9152-x
Publication date
2013
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
501021 Social psychology
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/73ee0d52-759b-425f-b578-ae7da660abb0