Who wants social recognition? Experimental evidence from blood donors

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Abstract

Does social recognition motivate prosocial individuals? We run large-scale experiments at Italy’s main blood donors association testing social recognition in social media and peer groups. We experimentally disentangle visibility concerns and peer comparisons and study how exposure to different social norms affects giving. In three studies we find that a simple ask to donate is at least as effective as offering social recognition. A survey experiment with blood donors indicates that social recognition backfires when offered to people that are already perceived as good citizens. Our results suggest that increasing visibility of good actions can backfire when perceived as image-seeking.

The Speaker

Dr Egon Tripodi is Assistant Professor of Economics at the Hertie School. Egon is an applied microeconomist broadly interested in Behavioral Public and Political Economy questions. His research uses lab field and natural experiments to understand how incentives and the social environment shape behavior and beliefs. Before joining the Hertie School Egon was a JILAEE Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Chicago and at the Universidad del CEMA in Buenos Aires. He earned a PhD in Economics from the European University Institute in 2020 and holds a BSc in Finance and an MSc in Economics from the University of Rome Tor Vergata.