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Di Cagno, D., Sciubba, E. (2010). Trust, trustworthiness and social networks: Playing a trust game when networks are formed in the lab. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization 75, 156–167

This paper investigates the impact of network formation on trust and trustworthiness. We run a laboratory experiment where, in sequence, networks are generated endogenously within an anonymous group and subjects play a trust game. The experimental design includes two main treatments and a baseline: in the baseline subjects play a trust game with no networks being formed, in treatment NT the network building phase precedes the trust game, and in treatment TN the network game is played at the end. This allows us to identify the two main factors through which networks impact on trust and trustworthiness: information accrued to subjects through social interaction (when this occurs first) and reputation (when it follows). We find that in NT, the overall level of trust is lower but offers are directed to more trustworthy recipients. A common past history matters in determining whom to trust (information value of networks). In TN, continuation play enforces higher levels of trust and trustworthiness (reputation and enforced  reciprocity). Profits that subjects make in the trust game are higher in the presence of social interaction, and significantly so when network formation informs the decision of whom to trust.

Authors

Di Cagno, Daniela

Current position: -Professor of Microeconomics and Economics of uncertainty and information at LUISS Guido Carli University of Rome, Italy. -Director of the Centre of experimental economics of Luiss Guido Carli (CESARE). -Member of the Economic Science Association(ESA). Main research interests:...

Sciubba, Emanuela

Emanuela Sciubba is Senior Lecturer in Economics at the Department of Economics, Mathematics and Statistics of the Birkbeck College.

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