Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Series: Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers
Creation-Date: 2025-12-05
Number: 25-068/I
Author-Name: Katharina Brütt
Author-Workplace-Name: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Author-Name: Eve Ernst
Author-Workplace-Name: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Title: Far from free: How social proximity affects paternalism
Abstract: Paternalistic policies are pervasive, yet little is known about how relationships between decision-makers and targets shape them. This paper examines how social proximity -- the degree to which individuals share identity-defining traits – influences paternalistic interventions. In an experiment with a representative U.S. sample, we manipulate proximity and distinguish between preference-responsive paternalism, reflecting one’s own preferences, and belief-responsive paternalism, reflecting beliefs about others’ preferences. Social proximity leaves the overall frequency of restrictions unchanged but shifts their driver: low proximity fosters preference-responsive paternalism, while high proximity promotes belief-responsive paternalism. Non-religious and independents restrict least; Christians and Republicans restrict more dissimilar others.
Classification-JEL: C91, D12, D15, D91
Keywords:  Paternalism, Social identity, Social proximity, Experiment 
File-URL: https://papers.tinbergen.nl/25068.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 3.999.990 bytes
Handle: RePEc:tin:wpaper:20250068