Theft in South Africa: An Experiment to Examine the Influence of Racial Identity and Inequality |
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| Authors: | Clinton J. Pecenka Godfrey Kundhlande |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Consultant, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation , This research was undertaken while a graduate student in Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota clint.pecenka@gatesfoundation.org;3. World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)-Southern Africa , This research was undertaken while on the faculty in the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of the Free State |
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| Abstract: | This article uses a dictator game to determine the impact of racial identity and inequality on theft in South Africa. A dictator can take money from a receiver's endowment. The money vulnerable to theft is constant across groups, and there is no threat of punishment. Any differential in the amount taken is due to considerations of the racial identity of the potential victim or to variation in receiver endowments. The results provide weak evidence that theft is impacted by inequality. However, racial identity significantly influences theft decisions. Contrary to expectations, black participants take 15 per cent more from other black participants. |
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