@article{a79b5bfa53db42b9bdde268bba67fb80,
title = "Cooperation under oath: A case for context-dependent preferences",
abstract = "The oath has been shown to improve behavior toward social objectives. Existing research suggests that the oath promotes pro-social behavior without affecting an underlying preference for cooperation. We examine whether an oath impacts behavior in the simultaneous and sequential versions of the prisoners{\textquoteright} dilemma and explore whether that impact could be attributed to a change of preference for the cooperative outcome. We observe an overwhelming transfer of reported strategies by oath-takers moving second from selfish (always defect) to conditionally cooperative (cooperate against cooperation by first movers). Our results lend support to the hypothesis that preferences depend on the oath-taking context.",
keywords = "Context-dependent preferences, Cooperation, Oath, Social dilemma",
author = "Jo{\~a}o Vaz and Jason Shogren",
note = "Funding Information: Thanks to Nicolas Jacquemet and Stephane Luchini for all the discussions on the oath over the years. Shogren thanks the University of Alaska-Anchorage, United States for their financial support while working on this paper, as well as the helpful comments from seminar participants at Appalachian State University. Financial support from the University of Wyoming College of Business Academy of Research Excellence, United States , the University of Wyoming Center for Global Studies, United States , and the Stroock Chair of Natural Resource Conservation and Management, United States is gratefully acknowledged. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Author(s)",
year = "2023",
month = aug,
doi = "10.1016/j.econlet.2023.111229",
language = "English",
volume = "229",
journal = "Economics Letters",
issn = "0165-1765",
publisher = "Elsevier",
}