[PEN-L:33087] Re: Re: Fw: economists and free riding behavior...

["Ian Murray" <seamus2001@xxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Perelman" <michael@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>



>
> The original reference is
>
> Frank, Robert H., Thomas Gilovich, and Dennis T. Regan. 1993. "Does
> Studying Economics Inhibit Cooperation?" Journal of Economic
Perspectives,
> 7: 2 (Spring): pp. 159-72.
>
=========================

Even better is the following gem:

"Does economics make citizens corrupt"
Bjorn Frank & Gunther Schulze
Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization
Vol. 43 (2000) p 101-113

Abstract:

In this paper, we report on an experiment on corruption which
investigates various determinants of corruptibility. We found that
economics students are significantly more corrupt than others, which is
due to self-selection rather than indoctrination. Moreover, our results
vary with gender - male students of economics are most corrupt, male
n0n-economists the least. Also agents are no less corrupt if rewarded in
addition to, and independently of a possible bribe. Our experiment
isolates the influence of self-interest on cooperation from other
influences such as risk attitude and expectations regarding the behavior
of others.