In search of homo economicus: Behavioral experiments in 15 small-scale societies (2001)
Abstract
This article discusses the results of behavioral experiments in small-scale societies. The canonical model of economic behavior assumes that individuals are entirely self-interested. First, the canonical model is not supported in any society studied in this research. Second, there is considerably more behavioral variability across groups than had been found in previous cross-cultural research, and the canonical model fails in a wider variety of ways than in previous experiments. Third, group-level differences in economic organization and the degree of market integration explain a substantial portion of the behavioral variation across societies: the higher the degree of market integration and the higher the payoffs to cooperation, the greater the level of cooperation in experimental games. Fourth, individual-level economic and demographic variables do not explain behavior either within or across groups. Fifth, behavior in the experiments is generally consistent with economic patterns of everyday life in these societies.
Bibliographic entry
Henrich, J., Boyd, R., Bowles, S., Camerer, C., Fehr, E., Gintis, H., [et-al] (2001). In search of homo economicus: Behavioral experiments in 15 small-scale societies. American Economic Review, 91, 73-78.
Miscellaneous
| Publication year | 2001 | |
|---|---|---|
| Document type: | Article | |
| Publication status: | Published | |
| External URL: | ||
| Categories: | Experimental GamesEconomic Behavior | |
| Keywords: |