American Economic Journal:
Applied Economics
ISSN 1945-7782 (Print) | ISSN 1945-7790 (Online)
What Determines Giving to Hurricane Katrina Victims? Experimental Evidence on Racial Group Loyalty
American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
vol. 1,
no. 2, April 2009
(pp. 64–87)
(Complimentary)
Abstract
We investigate the role of racial group loyalty on generosity in a broadly representative sample of the US adult population. We use an audiovisual presentation to manipulate beliefs about the race, income, and worthiness of Hurricane Katrina victims. Respondents then decide how to divide $100 between themselves and Katrina victims. We find no effects of victims' race on giving on average. However, respondents who report feeling close to their racial or ethnic group give substantially more when victims are of the same race, while respondents who do not feel close to their group give substantially less. (JEL D64, J15, Q54)Citation
Fong, Christina M., and Erzo F. P. Luttmer. 2009. "What Determines Giving to Hurricane Katrina Victims? Experimental Evidence on Racial Group Loyalty." American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 1 (2): 64–87. DOI: 10.1257/app.1.2.64Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- D64 Altruism
- J15 Economics of Minorities and Races; Non-labor Discrimination
- Q54 Climate; Natural Disasters; Global Warming