Document Type

Working Paper

Publication Date

12-19-2015

College/Unit

Chambers College of Business and Economics

Document Number

16-08

Department/Program/Center

Economics

Abstract

We explore the relationship between common psychological traits, such as Theory of the Mind, Rational‐Experiential Inventory, and Big Five Personality styles, and willingness to contribute to public goods. Then, motivated by research that has indicated a relationship between past social interactions and cooperativeness, we consider the interaction between past game outcomes and psychological traits on free riding. We show that psychological traits of individuals have both a direct effect on free riding behavior, as well as an indirect effect as it enhances the correlation between past strategic behavior and public goods giving. Thus, the measurement tools of social psychology and management can be beneficial in understanding individual‐level differences in free riding.

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Economics Commons

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