RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Social Interaction in Responsibility Ascription: The Case of Household Recycling
JF Land Economics
JO Land Econ
FD University of Wisconsin Press
SP 766
OP 784
DO 10.3368/le.86.4.766
VO 86
IS 4
A1 Brekke, Kjell Arne
A1 Kipperberg, Gorm
A1 Nyborg, Karine
YR 2010
UL http://le.uwpress.org/content/86/4/766.abstract
AB Duty-orientation implies a warm glow of giving as well as a cold shiver of not giving enough. If duty-oriented consumers learn their moral responsibility by observing others’ behavior, social interaction in contribution behavior arises. However, since moral responsibility is a burden, duty-oriented consumers may be less willing to accept responsibility if their information about others’ behavior is uncertain. Data from a survey on households’ glass recycling indicates that perceived responsibility is a major determinant for reported recycling, that responsibility ascription is influenced by beliefs about others’ behavior, and that people are, indeed, reluctant to accept responsibility based on uncertain information. (JEL D64, Q53)