Princeton University, NBER, CEPR, CIFAR, and IZA Toulouse School of Economics.
Q J Econ. 2011;126(2):805-55. doi: 10.1093/qje/qjr002.
We develop a theory of moral behavior, individual and collective, based on a general model of identity in which people care about “who they are” and infer their own values from past choices. The model sheds light on many empirical puzzles inconsistent with earlier approaches. Identity investments respond nonmonotonically to acts or threats, and taboos on mere thoughts arise to protect beliefs about the “priceless” value of certain social assets. High endowments trigger escalating commitment and a treadmill effect, while competing identities can cause dysfunctional capital destruction. Social interactions induce both social and antisocial norms of contribution, sustained by respectively shunning free riders or do-gooders.
我们基于一个普遍的身份认同模型，提出了一个关于个人和集体道德行为的理论。在这个模型中，人们关心的是“自己是谁”，并从过去的选择中推断出自己的价值观。这个模型解释了许多与早期方法不一致的经验性难题。身份投资对行为或威胁的反应是非单调的，仅仅是思想上的禁忌就会出现，以保护对某些社会资产“无价”价值的信念。高天赋会引发不断升级的承诺和跑步机效应，而相互竞争的身份可能会导致功能失调的资本破坏。社会互动会引发社会和反社会的贡献规范，分别通过回避搭便车者或多管闲事者来维持。
