Self-governance and punishment: An experimental study among namibian forest users
Vollan B, Proepper M, Landmann A, Balafoutas L (2019)
Publication Type: Journal article
Publication year: 2019
Journal
Book Volume: 67
Pages Range: 935-967
Journal Issue: 4
DOI: 10.1086/700098
Abstract
We use a framed field experiment to assess resource harvesting behavior and its interaction with prosocial and antisocial punishment in the Kavango woodland savannah of Namibia. We implement two treatments, one with external, centralized punishment and one with internal, decentralized punishment. Our findings suggest that institution type matters, as internal punishment is a more effective regime to discipline high harvesters compared with external punishment. We find that antisocial punishment (i.e., the sanctioning of people who cooperate by free riders) happens frequently, partly as revenge and especially in ethnically heterogeneous groups, but ultimately does not prevent cooperative self-governance.
Authors with CRIS profile
Involved external institutions
Universität Hamburg (UHH)
Germany (DE)
Philipps-Universität Marburg
Germany (DE)
Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck / University of Innsbruck
Austria (AT)
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Germany (DE)
Germany (DE)
Philipps-Universität Marburg
Germany (DE)
Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck / University of Innsbruck
Austria (AT)
Georg-August-Universität Göttingen
Germany (DE)
How to cite
APA:
Vollan, B., Proepper, M., Landmann, A., & Balafoutas, L. (2019). Self-governance and punishment: An experimental study among namibian forest users. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 67(4), 935-967. https://dx.doi.org/10.1086/700098
MLA:
Vollan, Bjoern, et al. "Self-governance and punishment: An experimental study among namibian forest users." Economic Development and Cultural Change 67.4 (2019): 935-967.
BibTeX: Download