• https://publications.iadb.org/en/publication/what-extent-do-latin-americans-trust-and-cooperate-field-experiments-social-exclusion

Candelo, Natalia (2015). Economic Experiments to Measure Trust and Cooperation among Latin America: 2007. IDB Open Data. https://doi.org/10.60966/1whrtcwq

1. English

What does this dataset measure?

This dataset compiles behavioral data from economic experiments that examine how individuals in six Latin American cities make decisions in contexts of trust and cooperation. It captures quantitative results from both the trust game and the public goods game, designed to measure reciprocity, generosity, and collective behavior.

Which countries and cities are included in the study?

Data were collected from six major cities: Bogotá (Colombia), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Caracas (Venezuela), Lima (Peru), Montevideo (Uruguay), and San José (Costa Rica). Together, they represent a broad cross-section of urban populations in Latin America.

What is the trust game?

The trust game is a behavioral economics experiment that measures how much a participant is willing to trust another person by sending part of their endowment, and how much the second participant reciprocates. The data records both the amounts sent and returned to quantify trust and reciprocity.

What is the public goods game?

The public goods game measures cooperative behavior in group settings. Each participant decides how much of their resources to contribute to a shared pool that benefits everyone. The data illustrate how cooperation levels vary across countries, demographics, and experimental conditions.

What kind of information is included in the dataset?

The dataset includes:
- Behavioral results from the trust and public goods games
- Demographic data (age, gender, income, education)
- Attitudinal measures of trust and cooperation
- Experimental protocols and response dictionaries

How can researchers use this dataset?

Researchers can use these data to:
- Compare trust and cooperation levels across countries and demographic groups.
- Study the relationship between social capital and economic behavior.
- Develop models of collective action and public goods provision.
- Inform evidence-based policy on social cohesion and civic engagement.

Who conducted the experiments?

The experiments were coordinated by the Research Department of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) as part of a regional initiative on social exclusion, trust, and economic behavior.

Over what period were the experiments conducted?

Fieldwork took place between 2006 and 2007, with standardized protocols across all six cities to ensure cross-country comparability.

Where can I find additional documentation?

The dataset includes complete methodological documentation in the folders “protocolo” and “dictionary”, which describe the experimental design, sequence of questions, and variable definitions.