by Alexander Brandt

Abstract:

This experimental study evaluated the effects of two common economic situations – taxation and donation – on the social distance between participants in the situations, an original effect of interest that is the opposite of prior research. This study employed a novel survey framework, in which subjects gave money to others in the economic situations and socially judged recipients of their money. Findings mostly did not support predictions that the economic situations would differently affect social distance, but the novel framework enabled an effective test of the effect of economic situations on social distance and is a major contribution to the field.

Professor Rachel E. Kranton, Faculty Advisor
Professor Scott A. Huettel, Faculty Advisor
Professor Grace Kim, Seminar Advisor

JEL Codes: C91; D64; D89; D90

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