Diversity Effects for Altruistic Behavior: Evidence from the Field and International Data

Abstract

To investigate the relationship between ethnic diversity and altruism, we conduct a field experiment comparing ethnically diverse and homogeneous communities. We observe that people are more altruistic in diverse communities, that ethnic discrimination in altruism is only present in low diversity communities, and that discrimination and cultural differences in altruism disappear when subjects receive a gift from another community member. This positive relationship between diversity and altruism is verified using international data from 115 countries with multiple diversity measures. The results suggest that policies that encourage increased diversity and interaction between ethnic groups within communities and nations may increase prosocial behavior and reduce discrimination.