Economic games can be used to promote cooperation in the field

We present experimental evidence of the impact of playing a game on real-life cooperation. The game was framed as a pest-management activity, the effectiveness of which depends on the decisions of others. Playing the game changes behavior in the field, increasing the participation in all collective activities directed at reducing pest pressure. The economic impact of those activities is important, leading to losses that are similar to 20% lower than in the control group. Increased cooperation reflects changes in the understanding of others' willingness to cooperate, not changes in the understanding of underlying technological interdependencies.

Automated summary

Experimental evidence shows that playing a game can increase real-life cooperation, leading to higher participation in collective activities aimed at reducing pest pressure. This increased cooperation reflects changes in understanding others' willingness to cooperate, rather than changes in understanding technological interdependencies.