Nicholas Bardsley - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Nicholas Bardsley
Contributions to public goods simulated in economists' laboratory experiments have two peculi... more Contributions to public goods simulated in economists' laboratory experiments have two peculiarities from the perspective of statistical modelling. There is a variety of contributor behaviours (Ledyard, 1995), suggestive perhaps of separate classes of individuals, and contributions are doubly censored. We present an econometric model of contributions in sequential play, which takes into account the censoring, admits variation both within and
Contributions to public goods simulated in economists' laboratory experiments have two pe... more Contributions to public goods simulated in economists' laboratory experiments have two peculiarities from the perspective of statistical modelling. There is a variety of contributor behaviours (Ledyard, 1995), suggestive perhaps of separate classes of individuals, and contributions are doubly censored. We present an econometric model of contributions in sequential play, which takes into account the censoring, admits variation both within and
This paper reports experimental tests of two alternative explanations of how players use focal po... more This paper reports experimental tests of two alternative explanations of how players use focal points to select equilibria in one-shot coordination games. Cognitive hierarchy theory explains coordination as the result of common beliefs about players’ pre-reflective inclinations towards the relevant strategies; the theory of team reasoning explains it as the result of the players’ using a non-standard form of reasoning.
International Handbook on Social Policy and the Environment, 2014
Abstract People contribute more to public goods, the more others give (“crowding-in”). We investi... more Abstract People contribute more to public goods, the more others give (“crowding-in”). We investigate two possible causes of crowding-in: reciprocity, the usual explanation, and conformism, a neglected alternative. The issue is important since conformism,has more scope to bring about endogenous,social interaction effects outside the laboratory. We ,use Bardsley’s (2000) Conditional Information Lottery design to control “others’ behaviour” without deception. We
Since homo sapiens is a social animal, one might expect human nature - the set of psychological p... more Since homo sapiens is a social animal, one might expect human nature - the set of psychological propensities with which our species is naturally endowed - to equip human beings to live in social groups. In this chapter, we consider the implications of this idea for economics and game theory. We begin by discussing four classic accounts of the forces
This paper discusses whether and if so how two major contemporary problems, climate change and fi... more This paper discusses whether and if so how two major contemporary problems, climate change and financial pressures on welfare states, should be tackled in conjunction. It compares different climate change mitigation instruments and argues that policies which share out the revenue that they raise on an equal per capita basis to all citizens are both effective in reducing CO 2 emissions and capable of preventing regressive effects that other emission reduction policies often generate. However, such schemes are not a long-term solution to general pressures on welfare state finances. They are perhaps best seen as temporary measures to enable a managed transition to a low carbon society, a process which might well be essential to maintain social stability, and therefore for the continued existence of the welfare state.
Twenty-First Century Society, 2009
Theory and Decision, Jan 1, 2007
In public goods experiments, stochastic choice, censoring and motivational heterogeneity give sco... more In public goods experiments, stochastic choice, censoring and motivational heterogeneity give scope for disagreement over the extent of unselfishness, and whether it is reciprocal or altruistic. We show that these problems can be addressed econometrically, by estimating a finite mixture model to isolate types, incorporating double censoring and a tremble term. Most subjects act selfishly, but a substantial proportion are reciprocal with altruism playing only a marginal role. Isolating reciprocators enables a test of Sugden’s model of voluntary contributions. We estimate that reciprocators display a self-serving bias relative to the model.
The Economic Journal, 2010
This article reports experimental tests of two alternative explanations of how players use focal ... more This article reports experimental tests of two alternative explanations of how players use focal points to select equilibria in one-shot coordination games. Cognitive hierarchy theory explains coordination as the result of common beliefs about playersÕ pre-reflective inclinations towards the relevant strategies; the theory of team reasoning explains it as the result of the playersÕ using a non-standard form of reasoning. We report two experiments. One finds strong support for team reasoning; the other supports cognitive hierarchy theory. In the light of additional questionnaire evidence, we conclude that playersÕ reasoning is sensitive to the decision context. on, two anonymous referees and participants at the 2001 Barcelona meeting of the Economic Science Association for comments. The idea of using a ÔguessingÕ treatment was first suggested by a student participant at a seminar at the University of Oxford, shortly after the publication of ; we regret that we do not know her name.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2014
Mind & Society, 2010
Can human social cognitive processes and social motives be grasped by the methods of experimental... more Can human social cognitive processes and social motives be grasped by the methods of experimental economics? Experimental studies of strategic cognition and social preferences contribute to our understanding of the social aspects of economic decisions making. Yet, papers in this issue argue that the social aspects of decision-making introduce several difficulties for interpreting the results of economic experiments. In particular, the laboratory is itself a social context, and in many respects a rather distinctive one, which raises questions of external validity.
Journal of Economic Psychology, 2012
Journal of Economic Psychology, 2005
... Permissions & Reprints. Conformity and reciprocity in public good provision star,... more ... Permissions & Reprints. Conformity and reciprocity in public good provision star, open. ... We find evidence of conformity, accounting for roughly 1/3 of crowding-in. Keywords: Conformity;Reciprocity; Public good experiment. JEL classification: C72; C92; H41. ...
Journal of Economic Methodology, 2011
It may be useful to begin by explaining what we think our book is about. Our aim, as we say in th... more It may be useful to begin by explaining what we think our book is about. Our aim, as we say in the Introduction, is 'to describe, appraise, and, where possible, adjudicate between different positions on how experiments do or do not help us to understand the real ...
Global Environmental Change, 2013
Ecological Economics, 2013
The emergence and spread of infectious diseases reflect the interaction of ecological and economi... more The emergence and spread of infectious diseases reflect the interaction of ecological and economic factors within an adaptive complex system. We review studies that address the role of economic factors in the emergence/spread of infectious diseases and identify three broad themes. First, the process of macroeconomic growth leads to environmental encroaching, which is related to the emergence of infectious diseases. Second, there are mutually reinforcing processes associated with the emergence/spread of infectious diseases. For example, diseases can cause significant economic damages, which in turn may create the conditions for further spread. In addition, the existence of a mutually reinforcing relationship between global trade and macroeconomic growth amplifies the emergence/spread of infectious diseases. Third, microeconomic approaches to infectious disease point to the adaptivity of human behaviour, which simultaneously shapes the course of epidemics and responds to it. Most of the applied research has focused on the first two aspects, and to a lesser extent on the third aspect. In this respect, there is a lack of empirical research aimed at characterising the behavioural component following a disease outbreak. Future research should seek to fill this gap and develop hierarchical econometric models capable of integrating both macro and microeconomic processes into disease ecology.
Contributions to public goods simulated in economists' laboratory experiments have two peculi... more Contributions to public goods simulated in economists' laboratory experiments have two peculiarities from the perspective of statistical modelling. There is a variety of contributor behaviours (Ledyard, 1995), suggestive perhaps of separate classes of individuals, and contributions are doubly censored. We present an econometric model of contributions in sequential play, which takes into account the censoring, admits variation both within and
Contributions to public goods simulated in economists' laboratory experiments have two pe... more Contributions to public goods simulated in economists' laboratory experiments have two peculiarities from the perspective of statistical modelling. There is a variety of contributor behaviours (Ledyard, 1995), suggestive perhaps of separate classes of individuals, and contributions are doubly censored. We present an econometric model of contributions in sequential play, which takes into account the censoring, admits variation both within and
This paper reports experimental tests of two alternative explanations of how players use focal po... more This paper reports experimental tests of two alternative explanations of how players use focal points to select equilibria in one-shot coordination games. Cognitive hierarchy theory explains coordination as the result of common beliefs about players’ pre-reflective inclinations towards the relevant strategies; the theory of team reasoning explains it as the result of the players’ using a non-standard form of reasoning.
International Handbook on Social Policy and the Environment, 2014
Abstract People contribute more to public goods, the more others give (“crowding-in”). We investi... more Abstract People contribute more to public goods, the more others give (“crowding-in”). We investigate two possible causes of crowding-in: reciprocity, the usual explanation, and conformism, a neglected alternative. The issue is important since conformism,has more scope to bring about endogenous,social interaction effects outside the laboratory. We ,use Bardsley’s (2000) Conditional Information Lottery design to control “others’ behaviour” without deception. We
Since homo sapiens is a social animal, one might expect human nature - the set of psychological p... more Since homo sapiens is a social animal, one might expect human nature - the set of psychological propensities with which our species is naturally endowed - to equip human beings to live in social groups. In this chapter, we consider the implications of this idea for economics and game theory. We begin by discussing four classic accounts of the forces
This paper discusses whether and if so how two major contemporary problems, climate change and fi... more This paper discusses whether and if so how two major contemporary problems, climate change and financial pressures on welfare states, should be tackled in conjunction. It compares different climate change mitigation instruments and argues that policies which share out the revenue that they raise on an equal per capita basis to all citizens are both effective in reducing CO 2 emissions and capable of preventing regressive effects that other emission reduction policies often generate. However, such schemes are not a long-term solution to general pressures on welfare state finances. They are perhaps best seen as temporary measures to enable a managed transition to a low carbon society, a process which might well be essential to maintain social stability, and therefore for the continued existence of the welfare state.
Twenty-First Century Society, 2009
Theory and Decision, Jan 1, 2007
In public goods experiments, stochastic choice, censoring and motivational heterogeneity give sco... more In public goods experiments, stochastic choice, censoring and motivational heterogeneity give scope for disagreement over the extent of unselfishness, and whether it is reciprocal or altruistic. We show that these problems can be addressed econometrically, by estimating a finite mixture model to isolate types, incorporating double censoring and a tremble term. Most subjects act selfishly, but a substantial proportion are reciprocal with altruism playing only a marginal role. Isolating reciprocators enables a test of Sugden’s model of voluntary contributions. We estimate that reciprocators display a self-serving bias relative to the model.
The Economic Journal, 2010
This article reports experimental tests of two alternative explanations of how players use focal ... more This article reports experimental tests of two alternative explanations of how players use focal points to select equilibria in one-shot coordination games. Cognitive hierarchy theory explains coordination as the result of common beliefs about playersÕ pre-reflective inclinations towards the relevant strategies; the theory of team reasoning explains it as the result of the playersÕ using a non-standard form of reasoning. We report two experiments. One finds strong support for team reasoning; the other supports cognitive hierarchy theory. In the light of additional questionnaire evidence, we conclude that playersÕ reasoning is sensitive to the decision context. on, two anonymous referees and participants at the 2001 Barcelona meeting of the Economic Science Association for comments. The idea of using a ÔguessingÕ treatment was first suggested by a student participant at a seminar at the University of Oxford, shortly after the publication of ; we regret that we do not know her name.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2014
Mind & Society, 2010
Can human social cognitive processes and social motives be grasped by the methods of experimental... more Can human social cognitive processes and social motives be grasped by the methods of experimental economics? Experimental studies of strategic cognition and social preferences contribute to our understanding of the social aspects of economic decisions making. Yet, papers in this issue argue that the social aspects of decision-making introduce several difficulties for interpreting the results of economic experiments. In particular, the laboratory is itself a social context, and in many respects a rather distinctive one, which raises questions of external validity.
Journal of Economic Psychology, 2012
Journal of Economic Psychology, 2005
... Permissions & Reprints. Conformity and reciprocity in public good provision star,... more ... Permissions & Reprints. Conformity and reciprocity in public good provision star, open. ... We find evidence of conformity, accounting for roughly 1/3 of crowding-in. Keywords: Conformity;Reciprocity; Public good experiment. JEL classification: C72; C92; H41. ...
Journal of Economic Methodology, 2011
It may be useful to begin by explaining what we think our book is about. Our aim, as we say in th... more It may be useful to begin by explaining what we think our book is about. Our aim, as we say in the Introduction, is 'to describe, appraise, and, where possible, adjudicate between different positions on how experiments do or do not help us to understand the real ...
Global Environmental Change, 2013
Ecological Economics, 2013
The emergence and spread of infectious diseases reflect the interaction of ecological and economi... more The emergence and spread of infectious diseases reflect the interaction of ecological and economic factors within an adaptive complex system. We review studies that address the role of economic factors in the emergence/spread of infectious diseases and identify three broad themes. First, the process of macroeconomic growth leads to environmental encroaching, which is related to the emergence of infectious diseases. Second, there are mutually reinforcing processes associated with the emergence/spread of infectious diseases. For example, diseases can cause significant economic damages, which in turn may create the conditions for further spread. In addition, the existence of a mutually reinforcing relationship between global trade and macroeconomic growth amplifies the emergence/spread of infectious diseases. Third, microeconomic approaches to infectious disease point to the adaptivity of human behaviour, which simultaneously shapes the course of epidemics and responds to it. Most of the applied research has focused on the first two aspects, and to a lesser extent on the third aspect. In this respect, there is a lack of empirical research aimed at characterising the behavioural component following a disease outbreak. Future research should seek to fill this gap and develop hierarchical econometric models capable of integrating both macro and microeconomic processes into disease ecology.