Effects of fairness, group goal, and self-interest on allocation preferences in step-level public good dilemmas

• In two experiments the prediction was tested that salience of fairness and group goal (economic productivity, social concern, or harmony) reduces the influence of self-interest on preferences for different principles (equity, equal treatment, or equal final outcomes) of distributing the outcomes accrued when a sufficient number contributes in a step-level public good dilemma. In Experiment 1, it was found that perceived fairness of allocation principles increased their perceived in-strumentality. Neither allocation instrumentality nor fairness varied with group goal or self-interest. In Experiment 2, the group goal of economic productivity in-creased fairness of allocations according to equity, and the group goal of social concern increased fairness of allocations according to equality and equal final outcomes. Perceived fairness and group goal were both related to allocation pref-erences. Self-interest had no effects on perceived fairness of allocation prefer-ences.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Psykologi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Psychology (hsv//eng)

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv -- Nationalekonomi (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business -- Economics (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Public good dilemmas

distributive justice

fairness

group goal

cooperation

Public good dilemmas

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

rap (subject category)