BENEVOLENCE IN ECONOMICS: A COMPREHENSIVE DICTATOR GAME META-ANALYSIS

Abstract

The study of human behavior in economics has long been a focus of research, with particular interest in understanding distributional preferences. The dictator game, a widely employed tool in experimental economics, plays a pivotal role in investigating these preferences. In this game, participants are entrusted with the task of allocating a sum of money between themselves and an anonymous recipient. It serves as a fundamental tool for unraveling human behavior in the context of distribution decisions. In recent years, a substantial number of dictator game experiments have been conducted, yielding a rich dataset on distributional preferences. While the majority of participants allocate a positive sum, the variations in their decisions, ranging from giving nothing to nearly everything, have prompted extensive exploration of the factors influencing such behavior.

This research delves into two primary dimensions of the dictator game: situational and demographic. The situational dimension seeks to refine our understanding of the conditions that dictate benevolent choices. Variables such as one-shot versus repeated games, the nature of funds (manna from heaven or earned money), stakes, and specified degrees of social distance have been scrutinized. Additionally, the demographic dimension employs the dictator game to quantify systematic behavioral disparities across different populations. Variables such as gender, age, and income are studied to shed light on their influence on dictator game decisions.