Review of Behavioral Economics > Vol 11 > Issue 3

When Later is Better: Delay in Donation Reception by an NGO Increases Donors’ Generosity

Gilles Grolleau, ESSCA School of Management, France, Luc Meunier, ESSCA School of Management, France, luc.meunier.finance@gmail.com
 
Suggested Citation
Gilles Grolleau and Luc Meunier (2024), "When Later is Better: Delay in Donation Reception by an NGO Increases Donors’ Generosity", Review of Behavioral Economics: Vol. 11: No. 3, pp 349-360. http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/105.00000193

Publication Date: 08 Jul 2024
© 2024 G. Grolleau and L. Meunier
 
Subjects
Ethics,  Behavioral economics,  Experimental economics,  Psychology,  Biases,  Heuristics,  Behavioral decision making,  Individual decision making
 
Keywords
JEL Codes: C91, D15, D64, D91
Construal level theorydictator gamegenerosityhungernon-governmental organization(s) (NGO)timing
 

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In this article:
Introduction 
Theoretical Framework 
Experimental Design 
Results and Discussion 
Conclusion 
References 

Abstract

When donors are solicited to give money, their donation can be transferred almost immediately to the targeted NGO or later. Using a lab dictator game, we test experimentally whether the temporal distance between the donation time and the time at which it is received by the NGO influences the donated amount. We found that informing participants that the donation will be received after a given period increases the donated amount, in line with construal level theory. The effect is fully mediated by an increased perception of closeness with the issue addressed by the NGO. We draw some practical implications for organizations soliciting generosity.

DOI:10.1561/105.00000193