9.30–10.00

Search Costs and Diminishing Sensitivity

Heiner Schumacher
Department of Public Finance

Abstract: Empirical search cost estimates tend to increase in the size of the transaction even if search can be done conveniently online. To test whether there is a positive association between prices and search cost estimates, we conduct an online search experiment in which we manipulate the price scale while keeping the physical search effort for each price quote constant. For a sample of student subjects and for online workers at Amazon Mechanical Turk, standard search cost estimates indeed increase considerably in the price scale. To obtain scale-independent estimates, we modify the search model and allow for diminishing sensitivity, i.e., the tendency that people become less sensitive to price variations of fixed size when the price of the good increases. We find substantial degrees of diminishing sensitivity and heterogenous search costs. By combining average hourly earnings and the duration of search, we verify that the search cost estimates from the modified model capture subjects' true opportunity costs of time.

10.00–10.15

Multi Sensory Sculpting Session

10.15–10.45

Break

10.45–11.15

Injunctive vs. descriptive social norms and reference group dependence

Christian König
Department of Banking and Finance

Abstract: We experimentally study role and reference group dependence in the elicitation of injunctive and descriptive social norms. Using mini-dictator games that are designed to reveal distributive motives, we vary whether dictators and recipients either separately or jointly coordinate on social norms. While elicited norms are stable in most constellations, we identify dictators to shift injunctive norms in a direction consistent with self-serving allocation outcomes when coordinating only among themselves. Eliciting beliefs about coordination outcomes shows that participants overestimate the divergences, as they expect them to be prevalent in all treatments and for both roles. Finally, we find descriptive social norms to correlate more strongly with dictator's allocation choices than injunctive norms.

11.15–11.45

Jade© – a digital tool promotes diversity among job applicants 

Martina Kohlberger
Department of Organization and Learning – HRM & Employment Relations

Abstract: Stereotypical language in job advertisements not only reduces equal opportunities for disadvantaged groups such as young professionals, women or older job seekers, but also reduces the pool of applicants. Together with the AK Vienna we (the Department of Organization and Learning - Human Resource Management und Employment Relations) have developed the Job Ad Decoder JADE to promote diversity among candidates. Employers can use JADE to identify stereotypical wording and replace it with suggested neutral wording.

11.45–12.15

Austrian Local Elections Database – Analyzing recent Elections in Tirol

Philipp Umek 
Department of Political Science

Abstract: The presentation will provide an outlook on the upcoming publication of the Local Elections Database. The applicability will be demonstrated using the case of the recent local elections in Tyrol by analyzing these elections in detail. Local elections tend to receive less media coverage and scholarly attention than national and regional elections due to their perceived subordinate role. However, local elections are an important point of reference for many citizens due to the proximity and direct relevance of local politics. Even though local elections constitute the base level of modern multi-level systems, they are mostly not adequately addressed in current electoral research. The paucity of systematic data on local election systems, procedures and outcomes is an important reason for this research gap.

Standardized data sets form the empirical basis of modern social science. These datasets not only allow quantitative answers to research questions. They are also the foundation for qualitative in-depth studies as they define the field of research and allow for theory-based case selection which depends on knowledge about the universe of cases. Local election studies on Austria are rare partly due to the challenges in data gathering. Each of the nine Länder has its own standards for collecting and publishing electoral data and in addition there is great variation over time within the Länder.

The aim of this project is to provide a comprehensive database on local elections in Austria covering the last 30 years. The dataset will be available to the scientific community at the Austrian Social Science Data Archive (AUSSDA), providing an answer to frequent requests by colleagues from all over Europe allowing for collaboration and comparative research on local elections. Furthermore, the availability of data will hopefully foster interest and research on elections and voting behavior at the local level in Austria.