Global Behavioral Economics Experiments Dataset

This dataset compiles results from behavioral economics and neuroeconomics experiments published between 1990 and 2025. It integrates findings across four core experimental paradigms: the Ultimatum Game, the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), Risk Aversion Tasks (including the Balloon Analogue Risk Task), and Delay Discounting tasks.

COVERAGE AND SCOPE:

• Ultimatum Game: ~1,000+ published studies (1990–2025). Average sample size: ~100 participants per study. Main countries: USA, Germany, UK, Japan, China, Israel. Typical age range: 18–40 years; predominantly university students. Key finding: responders reject unfair offers 20–50% of the time (vs. rational prediction of 0%), demonstrating strong fairness norms. Effect sizes: Cohen's d ~0.5–1.0.
• Iowa Gambling Task (IGT): ~500+ published studies since its 1994 introduction. Average sample size: ~75 participants. Main regions: North America, Europe, Asia. Typical age range: 25–40 years; mixed education levels. Core finding: participants favor short-term risky decks initially, then shift to safe decks over time. Effect sizes: r ~0.2–0.4; moderated by age, incentives, and publication year.
• Risk Aversion Tasks (BART and related): ~300+ published studies (1990–2025). Average sample size: ~50 participants. Main countries: USA, Europe (UK, Germany, Netherlands). Typical age range: 20–35 years; mixed education. Findings: higher impulsivity linked to poorer decision performance; risk-taking peaks mid-task. Effect sizes: small (ANOVA p < 0.01 across task blocks).
• Delay Discounting: ~2,000+ published studies (1990–2025). Average sample size: ~100 participants. Global coverage: USA, Latin America, Europe. Typical age range: 18–50+; varied education levels (low to high). Key finding: participants heavily discount future rewards (prefer $50 now vs. $100 later); steeper discount curves in lower SES groups. Effect sizes: large (k ~0.1–0.3, hyperbolic model fit).

VARIABLES INCLUDED:

• Age (range and mean by study)
• - Country of data collection
• - Educational level of participants
• - Behavioral outcomes (rejection rates, net scores, risk indices, discounting rates)
• - Effect sizes and statistical significance
• - Year of publication
• - Sample size

DISCIPLINARY INTEGRATION:

This dataset integrates findings from psychology, behavioral economics, and neuroeconomics — three fields with high and growing scientific output since the 1990s. It reflects the influence of seminal work including Thaler & Sunstein (2008), Kahneman & Tversky (1979), and Bechara et al. (1994).

REFERENCE:

Thaler, R. H., & Sunstein, C. R. (2008). Nudge: Improving decisions about health, wealth, and happiness. Yale University Press.

Bechara, A., Damasio, A. R., Damasio, H., & Anderson, S. W. (1994). Insensitivity to future consequences following damage to human prefrontal cortex. Cognition, 50(1–3), 7–15.

Kahneman, D., & Tversky, A. (1979). Prospect theory: An analysis of decision under risk. Econometrica, 47(2), 263–291.