Publication Date:
2021-05-19
Description:
The purpose of the study was to verify, through the use of an experimental method, the assumption that the
‘economic human’ pays more attention to the externality he/she causes as the strength of externality increases. We
used a social-experiment design within an undergraduate classroom to test assumptions, using statistical method.
A lakeside plant was used as an example. Our results confirmed the following: (1) 66% of subjects behaved
altruistically, while the remainder (34%) behaved selfishly, suggesting that the assumption of mainstream
economics may not be appropriate; (2) when we compared situations in which the plots with the natural resource
(e.g. the plant) to which the economic human had property rights were large or small in number, those who
possessed larger plots tended to be more conservative in resource use; and (3) when we compared situations where
the economic human’s extent of influence on natural resources was large or small, those with greater influence
tended to be more conservative in resource use. Although mainstream economics assumes a rational economic
human—who is supposedly selfish—our results suggest that altruistic behaviour dominates selfish behaviour, and
that altruistic behavior should be taken into greater consideration when making policy.
Description:
Published
Keywords:
Altruism
;
Environmental issues
;
Experimental Economics
;
Externality
;
Homo Economicus
;
Lakes
Repository Name:
AquaDocs
Type:
Journal Contribution
,
Refereed
Format:
pp.417-425
Permalink