Cognitive ability and in-group bias: An experimental study

We study the role of performance differences in a task requiring cognitive effort on in-group bias. We show that the in-group bias is strong in groups consisting of high-performing members, and it is weak in low-performing groups. This holds although high-performing subjects exhibit no in-group bias...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of public economics Vol. 167; pp. 280 - 292
Main Authors Paetzel, Fabian, Sausgruber, Rupert
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Elsevier B.V 01.11.2018
Subjects
Cognitive ability
Entitlements
Group identity
Minimal groups
Punishment
Social norms
Social preferences
Social status
D63
Punishment
Social status
D31
Cognitive ability
Entitlements
C92
Minimal groups
Social norms
Group identity
Social preferences
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Summary:We study the role of performance differences in a task requiring cognitive effort on in-group bias. We show that the in-group bias is strong in groups consisting of high-performing members, and it is weak in low-performing groups. This holds although high-performing subjects exhibit no in-group bias as members of minimal groups, whereas low-performing subjects strongly do. We also observe instances of low-performing subjects punishing the in-group favoritism of low-performing peers. The same does not occur in high-performing or minimal groups where subjects generally accept that decisions are in-group biased. •Performance differences in a task requiring cognitive ability affect in-group bias.•In-group bias is strong in groups consisting of high-performing members.•High-performing subjects exhibit no in-group bias as members of minimal groups.•Low-performing subjects punish the in-group favoritism of low-performing peers.•Results are consistent with entitlement considerations between groups.
ISSN:0047-2727
1879-2316
DOI:10.1016/j.jpubeco.2018.04.006