Dictator Game
An experiment where one player unilaterally divides a sum between themselves and another, who has no choice but to accept.
Also known as: Dictator games
Category: Decision Science
Tags: game-theory, psychology, decision-making, experiments, economics
Explanation
The dictator game is a stripped-down companion to the ultimatum game. One player, the dictator, is given a sum and must decide how much, if any, to transfer to a second player, the recipient. The recipient has no choice or response. Because the recipient cannot reject, classical economic theory predicts the dictator gives nothing. The behavior of dictators in experiments is one of the cleanest tests of altruism uncontaminated by strategic concern: there is no future round, no reputational consequence, no fear of rejection. Empirical results show that, on average, dictators give around 20 to 30 percent, far above zero but well below the equal split. Distributions are bimodal, with significant clusters at zero and at half. Variants reveal what shapes giving. Anonymity reduces transfers, suggesting some giving is driven by being observed. Allowing the dictator to take from the recipient (rather than only give) substantially reduces giving, indicating that framing and reference points matter. Earned wealth (won through a quiz) leads to less giving than gifted wealth. Cross-cultural and demographic studies show variation but consistent non-zero giving. The game is a foundational tool for studying altruism, social preferences, and the empirical limits of rational self-interest models, and it informs debates about charitable giving, intergroup behavior, and the structure of prosocial motivation.
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