Abstract
Experimental participants are more likely to follow an arbitrary rule the more of their peers do so as well. The difference between unconditional and conditional rule following is most pronounced for individuals who follow few rules unconditionally.
Highlights
Most people are conditional cooperators (Fischbacher, Gächter et al 2001, Fischbacher and Gächter 2010)
Many individuals are sensitive to deontological concerns, and even follow arbitrary rules (Kimbrough and Vostroknutov 2016)
We show that individuals are more likely to follow an arbitrary rule the more of their peers are doing so as well
Summary
Most people are conditional cooperators (Fischbacher, Gächter et al 2001, Fischbacher and Gächter 2010). They only cooperate if they are sufficiently optimistic that others cooperate as well. Conditional cooperation is an expression of (utilitarian) social preferences. Many individuals are sensitive to deontological concerns, and even follow arbitrary rules (Kimbrough and Vostroknutov 2016). Are they more willing to follow such rules if others do so as well?
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