Public good provision under environmental and social uncertainty

Abstract

Social dilemmas face people with various kinds of uncertainty. To extend earlier research on environmental uncertainty in resource dilemmas (i.e. uncertainty about the resource size), the present experiment examines the effects of Environmental Uncertainty (low, high uncertainty about the provision point) and Social Uncertainty (low, high uncertainty about others' cooperation) in a public goods dilemma. In line with Social Comparison Theory, it was predicted and found that Environmental Uncertainty decreases cooperation only under High Social Uncertainty, but not under Low Social Uncertainty. The detrimental effects of Environmental Uncertainty can be counteracted by uncertainty reducing information on the provision point and/or on others' contributions as well. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.