1991/01/01 by Henk Wilke · 1 citation
Social Sciences · Decision Sciences · #Experimental Behavioral Economics Studies #Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics #Culture, Economy, and Development Studies
paper · doi:10.1080/14792779143000051
openalex publication_date 1991/01/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Whereas rational choice theory predicts that harvesting in resource management situations is completely determined by greed, being the dominant choice, the GEF hypothesis predicts that although individuals are greedy (G), their greed is constrained by two other motives: the desire to use the resource efficiently (E) and the desire to realize fairness (F), referring to equal outcomes for all participants. The GEF hypothesis was corroborated by results from several computer-controlled experiments. It can account for (a) the pattern of individual responses to choices made by other group members, the impact of (b) environmental uncertainty and (c) social uncertainty, and (d) the conditions under which freedom of access is abandoned in favor of leadership.