The impact of goals and public rewards on a prosocial behaviour: an exploratory economic experiment

Abstract

Given that private rewards have mixed effectiveness in the realm of prosocial behaviours (Bénabou and Tirole, 2006), we explore whether a ‘public’ reward (denominated in additional units of public good provision) successfully encourages prosocial behaviour in the form of increased donations to a project aimed at improving atmospheric air quality. Our experiment consists of a dictator game designed to address (1) if the presence of a goal increases voluntary contributions to improving environmental quality and (2) if an additional public reward further increases voluntary contributions. We find a significant goal effect overall, yet no added public reward effect.

Keywords:

• experiment
• goal
• reward
• donations

JEL Classification:

• C91
• D03

Acknowledgement

We are grateful to the participants of the experiment for their time and effort.

Notes

¹ Because they were unable to anticipate the experiment, the students in our study were not present at time in order to earn money but to attend the course. The experiment was an unexpected activity that took place at the end of the class period.

² Let us indicate that this phrasing is common because of various initiatives in France using the same strategy: car license for 1€ per day, computer for 1€ per day, etc.

³ Four observations were discarded due to incorrect participation, and two additional treatments that extend beyond the scope of the present study included goal and no-goal scenarios paired with an unconditional reward (i.e. one that is offered regardless of goal achievement).