Which Relation between Globalisation and Individual Propensity to Co-Operate?
Gianluca Grimalda
December 2006
Abstract:
The paper reports on a theoretical framework for the study of the influence of globalisation on individual decision-making. The focus is on individual co-operative behaviour for the provision of public goods. First, I summarise relevant theories of globalisation and co-operation aiming to find a link between the two themes. Second, I illustrate the methodology of the research project “Globalisation, Co-operation and Trust: An Experimental Study”, which will carry out an international study on the subject. Finally, I report on some preliminary results from a pilot study of the project. The explanandum is individual propensity to co-operate measured in experiments of nested public goods problem. The main explanatory variables are four dimensions of individual access into globalisation processes, derived from a questionnaire. Of these four dimensions, the cultural and the social dimension of globalisation appear to have a strong explanatory power on individual co-operation rates, although they have different signs. The other two dimensions, economic and political, do not seem to have comprehensive explanatory power. The relationship with social identity is also analysed.
Keywords:
Globalisation, co-operation, public goods, experiments
JEL classification: H41, C93, F01
Acknowledgements:
This paper has been developed as part of the research project “Globalisation, Co-operation and Trust: An Experimental Study”, which is joint work of Nancy Buchan (Wisconsin University, co-leader of the project), Marilynn Brewer (Ohio State University), Margaret Foddy (Carleton University), Enrique Fatàs (Valencia University), Rick Wilson (Rice University) and myself (founder and co-leader of the project). Among others, I would like to thank Enrique Fatas, Sanha ‘Pie’ Hemvanich, Jose Pernias, Marco Vivarelli, for the support received in the econometric analysis, and participants to seminars held at CSGR. Financial support from CSGR and the National Science Foundation (research grant N. 1811611) is gratefully acknowledged. All errors are my sole responsibility.
Contact Details:
Centre for the Study of Globalisation and Regionalisation (CSGR)
Warwick University
CV4 7AL Coventry (UK)