Abstract
The intergenerational sustainability dilemma (ISD) is a situation of whether or not a person sacrifices herself for future sustainability. To examine the individual behaviors, one-person ISD game (ISDG) is instituted with strategy method where a queue of individuals is organized as a generational sequence. In ISDG, each individual chooses unsustainable (or sustainable) option with her payoff of X (X-D) and an irreversible cost of D (zero cost) to future generations in 36 situations. Future ahead and back (FAB) mechanism is suggested as resolution for ISD by taking the perspective of future generation whereby each individual is first asked to take the next generation’s standpoint and request what she wants the current generation to choose, and, second, to make the actual decision from the original position. Results show that individuals choose unsustainable option as previous generations do so or frac{X}{D} is low (i.e., sustainability is endangered). However, FAB prevents individuals from choosing unsustainable option in such endangered situations. Overall, the results suggest that some new institutions, such as FAB mechanisms, which induce people to take the perspective of future generations, may be necessary to avoid intergenerational unsustainability, especially when intergenerational sustainability is highly endangered.
Highlights
The intergenerational sustainability dilemma (ISD) is a situation of whether or not a person sacrifices herself for future sustainability
The results suggest that some new institutions, such as future ahead and back (FAB) mechanisms, which induce people to take the perspective of future generations, may be necessary to avoid intergenerational unsustainability, especially when intergenerational sustainability is highly endangered
As a potential resolution of the ISD, we introduce a future ahead and back (FAB) mechanism whereby first, each individual is asked to take the position of the generation and to request what she wants the current generation to choose and second, she makes the actual decision from the original position
Summary
The intergenerational sustainability dilemma (ISD) is a situation of whether or not a person sacrifices herself for future sustainability. In ISDG, each individual chooses unsustainable (or sustainable) option with her payoff of X ( X − D ) and an irreversible cost of D (zero cost) to future generations in 36 situations. A key question here is “does the growing threat of IS problems induce societies and individuals to take cooperative actions when communications among generations are difficult or impossible?”16,17. Given this state of affairs, this paper addresses how individuals cooperatively behave for maintaining IS. We consider intergenerational sustainability dilemma (ISD) to represent a typical situation where the current generation chooses to maximize (sacrifice) her own benefits without (for) considering future generations, compromising (maintaining) IS where communications among generations cannot be made[9,18]. Previous studies have shown that the economic factor and information about other dictators’ allocation influence allocations in the DG
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
