| Popis: |
We investigate how facing asymmetric incentives influences collaboration in a setting where subjects can cheat. In the experiment, subjects have to cooperate to receive payment, which depends on their reports about a random outcome, having the opportunity to be dishonest. We compare a situation where cooperation leads to gains that are equally divided between the two individuals to one where the division is unequal. We analyze the evolution of collaborative behavior over time and look at individual strategies. We find that corruptive collaboration is not diluted when personal interests are repeatedly in conflict. Dishonesty is multifaceted and less evident, therefore potentially more damaging. Subjects learn with experience how to dishonestly collaborate, also using their reports as signals. They coordinate on compromise distributions even if these give smaller payments, suggesting that lying gets indeed less costly in presence of asymmetric payments. JEL classifications: C92, D01 |
