Behavioral Economics Commons^™

Three Essays In Experimental And Network Economics, John D. Mcmahan

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation consists of the three essays in network and experimental economics. The first essay explores the importance of endogenous bilateral connections and punishment networks in public good settings. I conduct a laboratory experiment that varies the incentive to form links among participants in a traditional Voluntary Contribution Mechanism game. I find that when link benefits are zero very few connections are formed, and very little punishment takes place. When link benefits are positive many links are formed and cooperation levels are increased. In general, we find evidence that participants strategically use the bilateral linking process to avoid punishment and …