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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 5, 2026

The Collective Trust Game: An Online Group Adaptation of the Trust Game Based on the HoneyComb Paradigm
06:18

The Collective Trust Game: An Online Group Adaptation of the Trust Game Based on the HoneyComb Paradigm

Published on: October 20, 2022

Cooperation conflicts with equality when allocating public goods.

Anzhi Sheng1,2, Qi Su3, Alex McAvoy4,5

  • 1Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.

Nature
|June 3, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Uniform allocation promotes cooperation in social dilemmas but can increase inequality. This policy concentrates resources among highly connected individuals, potentially disadvantaging peripheral members and creating social stratification.

More Related Videos

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior
06:48

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior

Published on: January 19, 2019

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 5, 2026

The Collective Trust Game: An Online Group Adaptation of the Trust Game Based on the HoneyComb Paradigm
06:18

The Collective Trust Game: An Online Group Adaptation of the Trust Game Based on the HoneyComb Paradigm

Published on: October 20, 2022

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior
06:48

The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior

Published on: January 19, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Social Sciences
  • Game Theory
  • Network Science

Background:

  • Cooperation is often considered the optimal outcome in social dilemmas.
  • Research has focused on mechanisms like spatial structure to support cooperation and public goods production.
  • Distribution rules for public goods significantly influence behavior and societal prosperity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of different public good allocation policies on cooperation and equality.
  • To compare equitable allocation (returns proportional to contributions) with uniform allocation (equal shares).

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of public good allocation policies in social networks.
  • Comparison of equitable versus uniform allocation strategies.
  • Theoretical analysis of cooperation and equality dynamics.
  • Empirical validation across diverse social networks.

Main Results:

  • Uniform allocation generally facilitates the spread of cooperation more than equitable allocation across most social networks.
  • Uniform allocation leads to resource concentration in highly connected individuals, increasing inequality.
  • Peripheral individuals may receive fewer benefits under uniform allocation, potentially worsening their situation.
  • A conflict between cooperation and equality was identified across various empirical social networks.

Conclusions:

  • Inequality can be an unavoidable consequence of cooperation-promoting allocation policies in heterogeneous populations.
  • Policies fostering cooperation may inadvertently generate social stratification.
  • Promoting cooperation requires balancing its benefits against the associated inequality.