Social Interaction in Responsibility Ascription: The Case of Household Recycling
Link to article:
Authors:
Brekke, K.A., Kipperberg, G. og K. Nyborg
Year:
2010
Reference:
86(4), 766-784Summary
Duty-orientation implies a warm glow of giving as well as a cold shiver of not giving enough. If duty-oriented consumers learn their moral responsibility by observing others’ behavior, social interaction in contribution behavior arises. However, since moral responsibility is a burden, duty-oriented consumers may be less willing to accept responsibility if their information about others’ behavior is uncertain. Data from a survey on households’ glass recycling indicates that perceived responsibility is a major determinant for reported recycling, that responsibility ascription is influenced by beliefs about others’ behavior, and that people are, indeed, reluctant to accept responsibility based on uncertain information.
JEL:
D64, Q53
Project:
Oppdragsgiver: Norges forskningsrådOppdragsgivers prosjektnr.:
Frisch prosjekt: 3114 - External effects: Individual or public responsibility?
