Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Title: Global Evidence on Economic Preferences    
Author-Name: Armin Falk
Author-Email: Armin.Falk@briq-institute.org
Author-Name: Anke Becker
Author-Email: ankebecker@fas.harvard.edu
Author-Name: Thomas Dohmen
Author-Email: t.dohmen@uni-bonn.de
Author-Name: Benjamin Enke
Author-Email: enke@fas.harvard.edu
Author-Name: David Huffman
Author-Email: huffmand@pitt.edu
Author-Name: Uwe Sunde
Author-Email: uwe.sunde@econ.lmu.de
Classification-JEL: D01, D03, F00
Keywords: 

Abstract: This paper studies the global variation in economic preferences. For this purpose,
we present the Global Preference Survey (GPS), an experimentally validated survey
dataset of time preference, risk preference, positive and negative reciprocity, altruism,
and trust from 80,000 individuals in 76 countries. The data reveal substantial
heterogeneity in preferences across countries, but even larger within-country
heterogeneity. Across individuals, preferences vary with age, gender, and cognitive
ability, yet these relationships appear partly country specific. At the country
level, the data reveal correlations between preferences and bio-geographic and
cultural variables such as agricultural suitability, language structure, and religion.
Variation in preferences is also correlated with economic outcomes and behaviors.
Within countries and subnational regions, preferences are linked to individual savings
decisions, labor market choices, and prosocial behaviors. Across countries,
preferences vary with aggregate outcomes ranging from per capita income, to entrepreneurial
activities, to the frequency of armed conflicts.

Note: 
Length: 90
Creation-Date: 2018-03
Revision-Date: 
File-URL: https://www.crctr224.de/research/discussion-papers/archive/dp005
File-Format: application/pdf
Handle: RePEc:bon:boncrc:CRCTR224_2018_005