In this stage of the experiment you will be asked to consider principles that can be used to compare different income distributions where money is divided between 10 randomly drawn individuals.
Your task is to decide which of these distributional principles you agree with, i.e. which principles you would like to rely on when money is to be divided between other individuals (not involving yourself).
In particular, we will verbally describe to you two income distributions, A and B, and a principle which distinguishes between the two distributions. Subsequently, you can choose to commit to the principle, i.e. to commit to distribute money to 10 randomly chosen individuals according to this principle whenever it can be applied, or not to commit.
Here is an example:
Consider two economic programs A and B such that all incomes in program A are even numbers, and all
incomes in program B are odd numbers.
Principle: In any such situation, program A with a even numbers should be chosen.
You will then have two options to chose from.
The first option is "I want to commit to the principle."
You should chose this option, if you think that the principle will always make the right decision
between any two distributions that it can be applied to, i.e. whenever all incomes of program A are
even numbers, and all incomes of program B are odd numbers.
The second option is "I do not want to commit, but decide case by case."
You should chose this option, if you think that the principle will not always make the right decision
between any two distributions that it can be applied to, for example because you think that sometimes
distribution B in which all incomes are odd numbers might be more desirable than distribution A in which all
incomes are even numbers.
Your commitment decisions are consequential. Specifically, we will implement an income distribution
for a group of 10 randomly drawn individuals based on your choices to commit or not to commit.
This is how it works:
At the end of the experiment, a random mechanism will determine which of your decisions is chosen
for implementation. Each of the principles that will be presented to you has an equal chance
to be chosen.
Associated with each principle, there is a pair of income distributions.
The two distributions differ from each other such that the principle can be applied in the way it
was described to you. This means that it is possible to infer which distribution should be implemented
based on the principle.
If you commit to the principle, then the choice between the two distributions is made
automatically based on the principle, and this distribution will be implemented.
If you chose not to commit, then the pair will be presented to you to
make a decision manually, and the distribution you choose will be implemented.