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Sharing the Fruit of Labor: Flexible Application of Justice Principles in an Ultimatum Game with Joint-Production

Bediou, Benoit ; Sacharin, Vera ; Hill, Christopher ; Sander, David ; Scherer, Klaus

In: Social Justice Research, 2012, vol. 25, no. 1, p. 25-40

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    Titre
    • Sharing the Fruit of Labor: Flexible Application of Justice Principles in an Ultimatum Game with Joint-Production
    Auteur
    • Bediou, Benoit. Brain and Learning Laboratory, University of Geneva, Boulevard pont d'Arve 40, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland
    • Sacharin, Vera. Brain and Learning Laboratory, University of Geneva, Boulevard pont d'Arve 40, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland
    • Hill, Christopher. Laboratory for the Study of Emotion Elicitation and Expression, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
    • Sander, David. Brain and Learning Laboratory, University of Geneva, Boulevard pont d'Arve 40, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland
    • Scherer, Klaus. Brain and Learning Laboratory, University of Geneva, Boulevard pont d'Arve 40, 1205, Geneva, Switzerland
    Type de document
    • Postprint
    Langue
    • Inglese
    Publié dans
    • Social Justice Research, 2012, vol. 25, no. 1, p. 25-40. Springer US; http://www.springer-ny.com
    Autre version électronique
    Identifiant OAI-PMH
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:314826
    Summary
    Individuals often need to negotiate how to distribute jointly produced goods—equally (e.g., 50:50) or equitably (e.g., proportionally to their contributions). We examined whether people have stable preferences, or whether they switch between equality and equity in different situations. Pairs of anonymous participants first produced a common pie, and then distributed it in an ultimatum game. Results suggest that individuals apply different justice principles depending on their contribution. When they produced less than 50%, proposers divided the pie equally. However, when they produced more than 50%, their offers fell between equality and equity. Responders' ratings of fairness and satisfaction varied similarly; with low production, equality was preferred, whereas with high production, equity was preferred. Nevertheless, equal and equitable offers were generally accepted, and only outright unfair offers were rejected. This suggests that individuals are relatively flexible about which justice principle should be applied, but punish proposers whose offers violate both principles