Public Discourse and Socially Responsible Market Behavior
Bartling, Bjorn
Public Discourse and Socially Responsible Market Behavior - American Economic Review 2024 - 3041-3074
We investigate the causal impact of public discourse on socially responsible market behavior. Across three laboratory experiments, having market participants engage in public discourse generally increases market social responsibility. These positive impacts are robust to variation in several characteristics of the discourse. We provide evidence that discourse strengthens beliefs that others support socially responsible exchange. However, relaxing requirements to engage in discourse sharply reduces its effectiveness. Our findings suggest that campaigns encouraging discussion of appropriate market behavior can have sizable impacts on addressing inefficiencies due to market failures but that policies encouraging broad public engagement may be important.
0002-8282
Communication
Consumer Economics
Education and Training
Micro-Based Behavioral Economics
Social Responsibility
Economic Sociology
Public Discourse and Socially Responsible Market Behavior - American Economic Review 2024 - 3041-3074
We investigate the causal impact of public discourse on socially responsible market behavior. Across three laboratory experiments, having market participants engage in public discourse generally increases market social responsibility. These positive impacts are robust to variation in several characteristics of the discourse. We provide evidence that discourse strengthens beliefs that others support socially responsible exchange. However, relaxing requirements to engage in discourse sharply reduces its effectiveness. Our findings suggest that campaigns encouraging discussion of appropriate market behavior can have sizable impacts on addressing inefficiencies due to market failures but that policies encouraging broad public engagement may be important.
0002-8282
Communication
Consumer Economics
Education and Training
Micro-Based Behavioral Economics
Social Responsibility
Economic Sociology