Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization最新文献

{"title":"Institutions and cultural capacity: A systems perspective","authors":"Jenna Bednar ,&nbsp;Scott E Page","doi":"10.1016/j.jebo.2025.106990","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jebo.2025.106990","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Societies rely on a mixture of markets, hierarchies, and democratic institutions to allocate resources, make decisions, and establish order. The success of any one institution depends on its design features, the nature of the task, and society’s cultural capacities. They also crucially depend on one another. In this paper, we model institutions and cultural capacities as interdependent. We define cultural-institutional equilibria as configurations in which cultural capacities are consistent with institutional choices, and institutional choices are optimal given tasks and culture. There is a disconnect between producing and leveraging cultural capacity. We consider the implications of this disconnect. In particular, some institutions <em>produce</em> generic cultural capacity, generating positive externalities that improve the performance of other institutions in society, while others are primarily <em>leveragers</em>, taking advantage of the cultural capacity created by other institutions.</div><div>We highlight five results. First, we show that positive feedback between cultural capacities and institutional performance produces multiple equilibria, providing a logic for why cultural capacities and ensemble compositions vary by place. Second, we show that cultural-institutional equilibria are generically not efficient because of a disconnect between producing and leveraging cultural capacity. Third, we show that if one type of institution, say markets, builds cultural capacities that hinder the performance of another institutional type, say democracies, then market expansion can lead to the demise of democracies. Fourth, we derive a <em>paradox of cultural capacity-building</em>: an institutional type that produces high levels of generic cultural capacity—notably, democracy—can all but disappear by making other institutional types relatively more efficient. Finally, we build a more complex model with five types of institutions that includes a positive feedback loop between two types of institutions and show how this increases the proportion of those types. This finding aligns with empirical evidence of the growth in algorithmic institutions and markets and the decline in hierarchical organizations and democracies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48409,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 106990"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143874468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Composition of peer mothers and gender norms: Class randomization and short-run effects","authors":"Liwen Chen ,&nbsp;Bobby W. Chung ,&nbsp;Guanghua Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Increased exposure to gender-role information affects a girl’s educational performance. Leveraging the classroom randomization in Chinese middle schools, we find that the increased presence of peers’ working mothers significantly enhances a girl’s performance in mathematics. The exposure also reduces gendered attitudes toward mathematics and future careers. Long exposure and a distant parent–daughter relationship enhance peer mothers’ influences. As falsification tests against unobserved confounding factors, we find that exposure to peers’ working mothers does not affect boys’ outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48409,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 107008"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143855428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anti-corruption and political trust: Evidence from China","authors":"Ming Fang ,&nbsp;Weizheng Lai ,&nbsp;Congling Xia","doi":"10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107015","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107015","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>How can anti-corruption efforts influence political trust in government? We investigate this question through the lens of China’s recent anti-corruption campaign, launched in 2013, which has disclosed many corruption investigations to the public for the first time. By analyzing a large individual panel dataset, we show that, on average, the campaign has reduced political trust, particularly among groups less informed about corruption before the campaign. We document strong heterogeneity in changes in political trust, possibly driven by prior political attitudes, as captured by previous unpleasant experiences with the government, pro-government indoctrination, and Confucian norms. Our results fit a model in which polarization is rationalized by different priors about the government. We also rule out several alternative explanations for our findings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48409,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 107015"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143860576","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Automation, education, and population: Dynamic effects in an OLG growth and fertility model","authors":"Catarina Peralta ,&nbsp;Pedro Mazeda Gil","doi":"10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107002","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107002","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We address two main structural changes occurring in developed countries: the rise of automation and population ageing. Using an R&amp;D-based growth model under an OLG framework, we consider education and fertility decisions, as well as automation in the production process, to explore the interplay between population ageing and automation. The results reveal dynamics that align with the US trends from 1970 to 2021. In particular, in response to increasing real wages, the model captures a decline in the fertility rate for low-skilled workers but an increase for high-skilled workers, consistent with observed data. We also analyze the model’s response to shocks related to automation and demographics (fertility vs. longevity), as well as policy instruments designed to reduce inequality.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48409,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 107002"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143855430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Is it advantageous to be first? Evidence from a TV comedy program","authors":"Real Arai ,&nbsp;Ryosuke Okazawa","doi":"10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107009","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Using unique data from contests in a Japanese comedy TV show, we estimate the impact of position order on performance evaluations. By exploiting the fact that positions in the contest are randomly determined by lottery, we estimate the effect of position order and find that the first position is favorable in the contest. One interpretation of these results is that the first performance is more likely to receive a default evaluation, which may be advantageous in less competitive contests where there are many winners relative to the number of participants. We present evidence that is consistent with this interpretation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48409,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 107009"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143855429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Being the best or being the only one – Dichotomous R&D strategy choices by startups aiming for acquisition","authors":"Joachim Henkel ,&nbsp;Thomas Rønde","doi":"10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107024","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107024","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We characterize optimal R&amp;D strategies in a model where an incumbent and a startup with no possibility to enter the market choose both investment level and radicalness of their R&amp;D projects. The incumbent commercializes the most valuable project, and, where necessary, acquires the startup. The startup has two locally optimal strategies: A “high quality” and a “low cost” strategy where it aims for having the most valuable and the only successful R&amp;D project, respectively. The struggle for rents inside the innovation system results in an inefficient portfolio of projects compared to the R&amp;D choices that a monopolist would make.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48409,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 107024"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143848010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The impact of bundling index insurance with credit and input vouchers: Experimental evidence from Ethiopia","authors":"Temesgen K. Belissa ,&nbsp;Robert Lensink ,&nbsp;Ana Marr","doi":"10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107013","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107013","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study assesses the uptake and impact of bundling index insurance with credit and input vouchers through a randomized control trial experiment. Smallholder farmers in Ethiopia are randomly assigned to a control group and three treatment arms, namely: (1) stand-alone index insurance with upfront premium payment, (2) stand-alone index insurance with delayed premium payment, (3) bundled index insurance with credit and delayed premium payment, or (4) bundled index insurance with credit and input vouchers with delayed premium payment. Distinguishing itself from previous studies, our research specifically isolates the impact of bundling from that of delayed premiums. The results highlight the crucial role of the bundled aspect (i.e., credit and inputs), not only in increasing uptake but also in fostering farming investments and productivity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48409,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 107013"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143848012","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The effect of task (mis)matching and self-selection on intrinsic motivation and performance","authors":"Timo Freyer ,&nbsp;Jonas Radbruch ,&nbsp;Sebastian Schaube ,&nbsp;Louis Strang","doi":"10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107010","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107010","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper investigates how the self-selection of tasks affects worker performance. Specifically, it investigates the impact of aligning tasks with workers’ preferences and the effect of providing workers with greater autonomy in choosing their tasks. To answer these questions, we conducted an online experiment in which participants engaged in one of two real-effort tasks. We exogenously varied whether participants were either randomly assigned their preferred or non-preferred task, or if they had the opportunity to actively self-select their task. The results show that participants who were randomly assigned their preferred task or self-selected a task increased their output by about 25%–42% of a standard deviation compared to those who were assigned their non-preferred task. This increase in output is linked to both enhanced productivity and extended time spent working on the task. In essence, our results underscore that workers’ performance depends crucially on whether they work on their preferred task. Importantly, our results also document that granting workers decision autonomy in task selection reinforces the performance increase.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48409,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 107010"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143848011","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Public attention, political ties and digital transformation of private enterprises: Evidence from the Hurun Rich List in China","authors":"Jingxian Zou ,&nbsp;Yinghao Pan ,&nbsp;Fangyu Shu ,&nbsp;Miao Jin","doi":"10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107030","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107030","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper investigates how public attention affects digital transformation in Chinese private enterprises through the lens of the <em>Hurun Rich List</em>, a prominent ranking of China's wealthiest individuals. Using difference-in-differences analysis of publicly listed firms from 2011 to 2021, we find that companies whose controllers appear on the rich list significantly increase their digital transformation efforts by 0.581 units (1.6 % relative to sample mean). This effect is economically meaningful, equivalent to 42 % of the impact from a one standard deviation increase in firm size. The digital transformation response is stronger for firms lacking political connections, as enhanced visibility motivates innovation among these firms. In contrast, politically connected firms show minimal transformation improvements despite facing increased regulatory scrutiny, suggesting they neither leverage their connections for protection nor accelerate digital initiatives following public recognition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48409,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 107030"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143844413","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Does ESG information impact individual investors’ portfolio choices?","authors":"Catharina Janz,&nbsp;Rainer Michael Rilke,&nbsp;B. Burcin Yurtoglu","doi":"10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jebo.2025.107007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We use an online asset market experiment to study whether ESG information affects the portfolio choices of retail investors. We find a significantly higher portfolio allocation to stocks with ESG information in the order of 14 percentage points compared to a control group where no ESG information is released. ESG information impacts retail investors regardless of its association with one of its components (Environment, Social or Governance) and degree of detail. In contrast to survey-based evidence on the importance of socio-demographic characteristics and personal traits, our results provide very limited evidence that such characteristics meaningfully correlate with portfolio reallocations in response to ESG information.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48409,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization","volume":"234 ","pages":"Article 107007"},"PeriodicalIF":2.3,"publicationDate":"2025-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143844412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}