Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2012
Abstract
We design an experiment to explore the impact of earned entitlements on the frequency and intensity of conflicts in a two-stage conflict game with side-payments. In this game, residents (Proposers) make side-payment offers and contestants (Responders) decide whether to accept the offers and whether to engage in a conflict. When subjects earn their roles, conflicts are 44% more likely to be avoided than when roles are assigned randomly. Earned rights impact behavior in three important ways: (1) residents who have earned their position persistently offer larger side-payments; (2) larger offers lead to a lower probability of conflict, but (3) residents whose offers do not lead to conflict resolution respond spitefully and exhibit greater conflict expenditure. Hence, with earned rights, the positive welfare effects of reduced conflict frequency are offset by higher conflict intensity.
Recommended Citation
Kimbrough, E.O. and Sheremeta, R.M. (2012). Why can’t we be friends? Entitlements, bargaining, and conflict. ESI Working Paper 12-16. Retrieved from http://digitalcommons.chapman.edu/esi_working_papers/73
Comments
Working Paper 12-16