The Making of Experimental Economics

Witness Seminar on the Emergence of a Field

herausgegeben von: Andrej Svorenčík, Harro Maas

Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Enthalten in: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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Über dieses Buch

This book is the transcript of a witness seminar on the history of experimental economics, in which eleven high-profile experimental economists participated, including Nobel Laureates Vernon Smith, Reinhard Selten and Alvin Roth. The witness seminar was constructed along four different topics: skills, community, laboratory, and funding. The transcript is preceded by an introduction explaining the method of the witness seminar and its specific set-up and resuming its results. The participants' contribution and their lively discussion provide a wealth of insights into the emergence of experimental economics as a field of research.This book was awarded the ‘Outstanding Research Publication award’ for 2012 by the American Educational Research Association’s Division I: ‘Education in the Professions’.

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Inhaltsverzeichnis

Frontmatter

Chapter 1. A Witness Seminar on the Emergency of Experimental Economics

Abstract

On May 28 and 29, 2010, 11 experimental economists gathered at the premises of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) to participate in a so-called witness seminar on the history of the experiment in economics. The seminar was organized by Harro Maas and Andrej Svorenčík, principal investigator and Ph.D. student on a grant project that was funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) on the history of observational practices in economics.

Harro Maas, Andrej Svorenčík

Chapter 2. The Very Beginnings

Abstract

Good afternoon and welcome. For the record, let me say today is May 28, 2010. My name is Chris Starmer, and I am the moderator of this Witness Seminar on the Emergence and Evolution of Experimental Economics. The event is organized by Harro Maas and Andrej Svorenčík, and funded by the Dutch Science Foundation. We are at the premises of the Royal Dutch Academy, and together with me are, from my right, participants Frans van Winden, John Ledyard, Jim Friedman, Charlie Holt, Vernon Smith, John Kagel, Betsy Hoffman, Reinhard Selten, Charlie Plott, Al Roth, and Stephen Rassenti. Welcome to all. During the event, my plan is, over a number of sessions, to explore with you four broad topics.

Andrej Svorenčík, Harro Maas

Chapter 3. The Growth of a Community

Abstract

In the last session, we were talking very much about early days and the origins of experimental economics. I would like to wind the clock just a little bit further forward and think about what was happening in the late 1970s from then and into the ‘80s where it seems like various groups were emerging both in the U.S. and particularly in Europe and Germany and holding meetings to discuss experimental economics. Reinhard could you perhaps tell us first a bit about the German experimental society, how it came about, and the meetings that were associated with that.

Andrej Svorenčík, Harro Maas

Chapter 4. Funding

Abstract

We will start the final session of the day on the homerun towards some drinks and dinner. One of our central topics for this session is related to funding, which we touched on in one or two ways. A characteristic feature of experimental economics is that experimentalists almost always pay task related incentives for participating in experiments. You have to raise some funds for those payments. And I want to explore that process a little bit.

Andrej Svorenčík, Harro Maas

Chapter 5. Knowledge and Skills

Abstract

Good morning, everyone. Welcome back. Congratulations to us for assembling a complete group by more or less 8:30 in the morning after a late, but extremely, enjoyable dinner. One thought that crosses my mind is that I am going to try to encourage you where I can in the sessions today, as I was doing yesterday, but perhaps doing more so, to illustrate answers that you are giving me, points that you are making with reference to specific examples of your work, other people’s work, when these things were, and what happened. I want to encourage you to think in that reminiscence mode and provide examples that you are drawing on.

Andrej Svorenčík, Harro Maas

Chapter 6. Laboratories

Abstract

Here we are. The final session came around much more rapidly than I had imagined. My plan is now to turn towards the final of the four themes—the labs. I wanted to explore some of the historical developments related to them. With a view of trying to pursue some chronology, I am going to begin this session by asking particular individuals about their experiences, and then, later on, draw people in. If you want to chip into those, then, feel free, but I also want to pursue a particular line. I was going to start with Stephen, actually, if I may, and ask you a bit about your first experiences of an experimental lab, which I think would probably be in Vernon’s lab in Arizona.

Andrej Svorenčík, Harro Maas

Chapter 7. History and Future

Abstract

Thank you. All right, as I said and there are two final things that I want to ask you guys. The first one is about disagreements. I think we have been a very jolly bunch and, I’m happy to say, nobody quarreling with one another much. But it seems to me there are some notable disagreements associated with experimental economics happening over the years and I can identify at least two different sorts of disagreements. Disagreements between experimental economists are fairly vocal, for example the debate about misbehavior in first price auctions would come to mind.

Andrej Svorenčík, Harro Maas

Chapter 8. Biographies of Participants

Abstract

Fig. 1 Group photograph From left to right: …

Andrej Svorenčík, Harro Maas

Chapter 9. Episodes from the Early History of Experimentation in Economics

Abstract

The present article builds on a background paper that was commissioned for a “witness seminar” in 2010 that had a dozen prominent experimental economists—witnesses, indeed—discuss the origin and evolution of experimental economics. Rather than providing a history of the experimental method in the behavioral science (with particular emphasis on those practices that informed experimental practices in economics), I was asked to provide exhibits from the early years of experimental economics. I was asked to refrain from interpretation and evaluation: “any suggestion of a linear history (as for example when, how and why the experimental methods in economics departed from those in psychology) should be avoided. … it is absolutely crucial to the success of the Witness Seminar to have the paper written open-ended, highlighting the questions at the time about specific episodes in experimenting. …” (email from Harro Maas and Andrej Svorenčík12/12/2009).

Andreas Ortmann

Erratum to: A Witness Seminar on the Emergence of Experimental Economics

Harro Maas, Andrej Svorenčík

Backmatter

Titel: The Making of Experimental Economics
herausgegeben von: Andrej Svorenčík
Harro Maas
Verlag: Springer International Publishing
Electronic ISBN: 978-3-319-20952-4
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-20951-7
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-20952-4