Abstract
In this paper we show experimentally that conditional cooperation, a phenomenon described in the private provision of public goods, is also present in group contests, where participants' contributions to their group performance partially determines if they overcome a rival group. This environment allows us to identify new determinants of conditional cooperation. We observe conditional cooperation in successful groups and in groups where members contribute more than rivals (even if they lose), but it vanishes in those groups that lose the contest due to low group performance. A random-effect linear panel regression analysis with an extensive set of controls confirms the findings.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Competitive Behavior*
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Cooperative Behavior*
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Decision Making
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Female
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Games, Experimental
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Group Processes*
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Humans
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Male
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Models, Psychological
Grants and funding
This study was funded by the following: HJK - K 119683, the National Research, Development Innovation (NKFIH) HJK - ECO2017-82449-P, Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness HJK - 20764-3/2018/FEKUTSRTAT, Higher Education Institutional Excellence Program of the Ministry of Human Capacities in the framework of the ’Financial and Public Services’ at Corvinus University of Budapest. ARG -ECO2016-76178-P, Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness ARG - PID2019-107192GB-I00 (AEI/10.13039/501100011033), Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.