Endogenous Minimum Participation in International Environmental Agreements: An Experimental Analysis

摘要: Almost all international environmental treaties require a minimum number of countries to ratify the treaty before it enters into force. Despite wide-spread use this mechanism, little is known about its effectiveness at facilitating cooperation. We analyze an agreement formation game that includes endogenously determined participation constraint and then test predictions using economic experiments. demonstrate theoretically players will vote implement efficient coalition size as membership requirement form. Experimental tests theory mechanism highly effective cooperation when efficiency requires players. However, only subset participate, profitable coalitions are often deliberately blocked. In light our results possible equity concerns can impede agreements requirements allow free riders.