“Domain dependency of norms and preferences for generosity”

Keywords: monetary domain, generosity, bargaining and allocation decisions

Experimental research in economics focuses on generosity in the monetary domain although many bargaining and allocation decisions take place in the non-monetary domain. Investigation of generosity in the non-monetary domain is important to design allocation and bargaining mechanisms that take people's preferences for generosity into account. This thesis explores whether generosity levels different between the monetary and the non-monetary domains and if so why. To answer the first part of the question, a systematic comparison of the generosity levels between domains was made. To answer the second part of the question, differences were considered in mistakes people make in giving decisions, differences in valuation of the non-monetary bad for the self and another person, and differences in social norms of allocation between domains. Results show that preferences for generosity are different between domains and that distinct social norms of allocation can explain the greater levels of generosity in the non-monetary compared to the monetary domain.