Abstract
We follow the experimental design of Erat and Gneezy (2012) and test the effect of tournament-induced competition on white lies. We find that subjects in a tournament exhibit less altruistic white lies and more Pareto white lies, i.e., competition reduces altruistic white lies and increases Pareto white lies. Importantly, competition increases the Pareto white lie that only benefits the other person and not the liar. Material self-interest is the mechanism underlying the effects of competition on altruistic white lies and Pareto white lies that benefit the liar. Moral self-image is the mechanism underlying the effect of competition on Pareto white lie that only benefits the other person.
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