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Financial Temptation Increases Civic Honesty
Article

Financial Temptation Increases Civic Honesty

Altruism and self-image, not selfishness, drive surprising findings

Shaul Shalvi
Science, 2019
References: Cohn (2019)
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Editorial Rating

7

Qualities

  • Scientific
  • Eye Opening
  • Concrete Examples

Recommendation

Are humans naturally inclined to be altruistic or selfish? It’s an age-old question that modern researchers are now trying to answer with scientific methods. Shaul Shalvi writes about a new field experiment on human honesty whose results came as a positive surprise to both economists and laypeople. His article is one you will remember long after reading it – and especially if, sometime in the future, you find yourself debating what to do with that cash-filled wallet you found on the street on your way to work. 

Take-Aways

  • Lab experiments testing human honesty mimic people’s real-life behavior fairly well.
  • Results from a large field experiment conducted in 40 countries exceeded scientists’ expectations regarding the prevalence of civic honesty.
  • Scientists are debating how to leverage their new insights to foster civic honesty.

About the Author

Shaul Shalvi is professor of psychology at the Department of Experimental and Political Economics at the University of Amsterdam.

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