SMU SOE Seminar (May 10, 2019, 4-5.30pm): Inequality, corruption and cooperation: Evidence from Vietnam

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ABSTRACT We examine the effects of randomly introduced inequality on voluntary cooperation and whether this relationship is influenced by exposure to local corruption, using data from a large-scale lab-in-the-field public goods experiment with over 1,300 participants across rural Vietnam. Our results show that inequality adversely affects aggregate contributions. Within groups with heterogeneous endowments, individuals with high endowments contribute a significantly smaller share than those with low endowments. The effect of inequality on cooperation is further exacerbated by corruption. We find that beliefs about others' contributions are lower in heterogeneous groups in the presence of corruption, and this is an important mechanism explaining our results. Click here to view the CV.
		PRESENTER Saurabh Singhal Lancaster University
		RESEARCH FIELDS Development Economics Health Economics Education Economics Conflict Economics Experimental Economics
		DATE: 10 May 2019 (Friday)
		TIME: 4pm - 5.30pm
		VENUE: Meeting Room 5.1, Level 5 School of Economics Singapore Management University 90 Stamford Road Singapore 178903