Abstract:
We use a two-person extensive form bargaining game to examine individual's trusting
and reciprocal behavior and how those relate to their scores on a trust survey. In
keeping with prior research, we find that the 'self-interested' outcome is rejected
by a majority of individuals. People who score high on the trust survey are both
trusting and are also trustworthy, in that they reciprocate others' trust. But,
people with low trust scores often exhibit trust but are not trustworthy. These
'inconsistent trusters' seem to be interested in exploiting the trust and
trustworthiness of others in increasing their own payoff.
