Back to Search
Start Over
How transparency may corrupt − experimental evidence from asymmetric public goods games.
- Source :
-
Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization . Oct2017, Vol. 142, p468-481. 14p. - Publication Year :
- 2017
-
Abstract
- We systematically explore the impact of transparency and punishment on cooperation in the provision of public goods. Motivated by problems of embezzlement, we study variations of a public goods game where one player (the official ) may embezzle from an existing public good, while others ( citizens ) can only contribute. We show that transparency induces increased embezzlement in the absence of a punishment mechanism. The qualitative impact of transparency on contributions to the public good is reversed when a punishment mechanism is introduced. We identify stigmatization of the official when actions are not transparent. Only a combination of transparency of actions and peer-punishment options creates full accountability and increases contributions by all players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 01672681
- Volume :
- 142
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 126455570
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2017.07.035