One of the most important questions regarding experimental economics is the external validity of laboratory experiments. This paper goes through a study that tests the generalizability of a Dictator Game as a laboratory analogue for a naturally occurring/ndecision-making context of teacher absenteeism. Because lab and naturally-occurring environments systematically differ we then discuss other factors that might strongly affect the choices that individuals make. We conclude that the dichotomy drawn ...
One of the most important questions regarding experimental economics is the external validity of laboratory experiments. This paper goes through a study that tests the generalizability of a Dictator Game as a laboratory analogue for a naturally occurring/ndecision-making context of teacher absenteeism. Because lab and naturally-occurring environments systematically differ we then discuss other factors that might strongly affect the choices that individuals make. We conclude that the dichotomy drawn between lab/nexperiments and data collected from natural settings is a false one. A combination of the two would provide deeper and better insights than either separately.
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