We explored experimentally how threshold uncertainty affects coordination success in a threshold public goods game. Whereas all groups succeeded in providing the public good when the exact value of the threshold was known, uncertainty was generally detrimental for the public good provision. The negative effect of threshold uncertainty was particularly severe when it took the form of ambiguity, i.e. when players were not only unaware of the value of the threshold but also of its probability distribution. Early signaling of willingness to contribute and share the burden equitably helped groups in coping with threshold uncertainty.

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We study spatially differentiated competition between charities by partnering with two foodbanks in two neighboring cities to conduct a field experiment with roughly 350 donation appeals. We induce spatial differentiation by varying the observability of charities' location such that each donor faces a socially close 'home' and a distant 'away' charity. We find that spatially differentiated competition is characterized by sorting, crowding-in, and an absence of spillovers: Donors sort themselves by distance; fundraising (through matching) for one charity raises checkbook giving to that charity, irrespective of distance; but checkbook giving to the unmatched charity is not affected. For lead donors, this implies that the social distance between donors and charities is of limited strategic important. For spatially differentiated charities, matching 'home' donations maximizes overall charitable income. Across both charities, however, the additional funds raised fail to cover the cost of the match, despite harnessing social identity for giving.

Die Dis cus si on Pape rs die nen einer mög lichst schnel len Ver brei tung von neue ren For schungs arbei ten des ZEW. Die Bei trä ge lie gen in allei ni ger Ver ant wor tung der Auto ren und stel len nicht not wen di ger wei se die Mei nung des ZEW dar.Dis cus si on Papers are inten ded to make results of ZEW research prompt ly avai la ble to other eco no mists in order to encou ra ge dis cus si on and sug gesti ons for revi si ons. The aut hors are sole ly respon si ble for the con tents which do not neces sa ri ly repre sent the opi ni on of the ZEW.Download this ZEW Discussion Paper from our ftp server:ftp://ftp.zew.de/pub/zew-docs/dp/dp10046.pdf NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYAdaptation to climate change is gaining increasing relevance in the public debate of climate policy. Thus, knowledge of costs and benefits of adaptation measures is of high importance.This study compiles existing cost estimates for adaptation measures in Europe. The systematic approach of the literature review points out sectoral and regional knowledge gaps in the adaptation research as well as high uncertainties. In particular, adaptation costs for the transport and human health sectors are scarce, although high adaptation costs can be expected in these impact sectors in the next decades.Based on the literature review of adaptation costs, the study furthermore asks how and to which extent public budgets are affected by adaptation -an issue which has been broadly unexplored by existing literature to date. At first, we analyse qualitatively by which channels adaptation influences the public budgets. In the next step, we present theory-, literature-and data-based guesses for the public shares of total adaptation costs in each of the most affected economic sectors. Linking these shares with the literature-based cost estimates allows a first insight into the magnitude of future public adaptation expenses by sector.The results are reflecting the high uncertainties and large knowledge gaps inherent in economic impact analyses of climate change issues. However, some conclusions can be drawn: High public costs may mainly be expected in flood protection and the transport sector.The annual costs for adaptation to climate change may amount to up to 4 bn € in the 2060s, and 5.7 bn € in 2050, respectively. In the agriculture sector higher total adaptation costs may occur, albeit paid by the public purse only to a minor degree. On the contrary, negative adaptation costs (i.e. saved expenses due to adaptation) are also expected, particularly through less heating demand. These savings of expenses can reach the notable amount of 4.2 bn € in 2050, although with a high regional heterogeneity within Europe.A synopsis of the findings reveals the need for further research in the quantification of adaptation costs and benefits as well as the high relevance of climate change adaptation for future public budgets in Europe. DAS WICHTIGSTE IN KÜRZE AbstractAdaptation to climate change is gaining increasing relevance in the public debate of climate policy. However, detai...