PROSOCIAL VIRTUAL SEMINAR
The PROSOCIAL Virtual Seminar is an open, online, and interdisciplinary series organized collaboratively by RWI & WZB. It provides a platform for academics to present their work from various areas of prosocial behavior, including but not limited to monetary donations, blood donations, organ donations, volunteering, and pro-environmental behavior.
The presentations take place on the second Tuesday of each month from 2:30-3:30 p.m. CET (Berlin time) via Microsoft Teams.
Each seminar presentation is scheduled to last 60 minutes, consisting of a brief introduction, a 40-minute presentation and 15 minutes for Q&A.
Background
This idea was developed as part of the Stimulating Prosocial Behavior (PROSOCIAL) project. For more details please follow this link. 
Upcoming presentations
13.01.2026: Nicola Lacetera (University of Bologna)
Seminar title: Incentives and Prosocial Discomfort: A Laboratory Experiment
Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m. CET (Berlin time)
Speaker: Nicola Lacetera (University of Bologna)
Access: Microsoft Teams; Register for this event here.
Abstract: We conducted a laboratory experiment in which participants decided whether to experience discomfort for charity, with or without additional personal compensation. Acceptance decreased with greater discomfort and increased with both larger charitable donations and personal payments. However, personal compensation reduced the marginal impact of donations—the combined effect of private and social rewards was less than additive. Moreover, order mattered: participants who first faced choices without personal compensation were more responsive to charitable donations throughout, whereas those exposed first to paid choices were less responsive, even when later decisions involved no payment. These results show that context — especially the presence and sequencing of private rewards— affects the relationship between incentives and prosocial behavior.
10.02.2026: Roland Bénabou (Princeton University)
Seminar title: Ends versus Means: Kantians, Utilitarians, and Moral Decisions
Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m. CET (Berlin time)
Speaker: Roland Bénabou (Princeton University)
Access: Microsoft Teams; Register for this event here.
Abstract: tba
10.03.2026: Natalie Sebanz (Central European University)
Seminar title: tba
Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m. CET (Berlin time)
Speaker: Natalie Sebanz (Central European University)
Access: Microsoft Teams; Register for this event here.
Abstract: tba
14.04.2026: Karine Nyborg (University of Oslo)
Seminar title: Why Morally Motivated Public Good Provision can Lead to Polarization and Minimal Contributions
Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m. CET (Berlin time)
Speaker: Karine Nyborg (University of Oslo)
Access: Microsoft Teams; Register for this event here.
Abstract: If public good provision relies on voluntary efforts, individuals may feel morally obligated to contribute. This may trigger social processes easing individuals’ perceived moral burdens, undermining contributions in the long run while causing segregation and polarization. We assume that individuals prefer to behave in accordance with their own and peers’ ethical views. Income inequality is exogenous, peer groups are endogenous, and there is biased social learning of ethical views. We find that in the long-run equilibrium, total contributions are minimal; moreover, the poor (rich) stick together, holding completely (non-)egalitarian views. Tax-funded public provision, however, does not drive similar polarization.
12.05.2026: Ragan Petrie (Texas A&M University)
Seminar title: tba
Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m. CET (Berlin time)
Speaker: Ragan Petrie (Texas A&M University)
Access: Microsoft Teams; Register for this event here.
Abstract: tba
09.06.2026: Jana Gallus (UCLA Anderson School of Management)
Seminar title: tba
Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m. CET (Berlin time)
Speaker: Jana Gallus (UCLA Anderson School of Management)
Access: Microsoft Teams; Register for this event here.
Abstract: tba
08.09.2026: René Bekkers (VU Amsterdam)
Seminar title: Generating Generosity
Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m. CET (Berlin time)
Speaker: René Bekkers (VU Amsterdam)
Access: Microsoft Teams; Register for this event here.
Abstract: tba
13.10.2026: Bertil Tungodden (NHH Norwegian School of Economics)
Seminar title: tba
Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m. CET (Berlin time)
Speaker: Bertil Tungodden (NHH Norwegian School of Economics)
Access: Microsoft Teams; Register for this event here.
Abstract: tba
10.11.2026: Paul van Lange (VU Amsterdam)
Seminar title: tba
Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m. CET (Berlin time)
Speaker: Paul van Lange (VU Amsterdam)
Access: Microsoft Teams; Register for this event here.
Abstract: tba
08.12.2026: Alex Imas (University of Chicago)
Seminar title: tba
Time: 2:30-3:30 p.m. CET (Berlin time)
Speaker: Alex Imas (University of Chicago)
Access: Microsoft Teams; Register for this event here.
Abstract: tba
Contact
If you have any questions or comments regarding the seminar series, please contact us at seminar.prosocial@rwi-essen.de.
If you want to join the mailing list, please write an email to seminar.prosocial@rwi-essen.de with the following text: “I would like to join the PROSOCIAL Virtual Seminar mailing list to receive regular updates about upcoming presentations in the PROSOCIAL Virtual Seminar and how to register for them”. One week before each seminar, you’ll receive an email with all the information you need to register for that session.
For more information about how we handle your data, please refer to our privacy policy.
Organizers
Prof. Dr. Mark A. Andor
Co-head of the research unit “Environment and Resources” and Head of the research group “Prosocial Behavior” at RWI
Photo: Sven Lorenz
Prof. Dr. Maja Adena
Head of the research group "Information, Incentives, Inequality" at WZB
Photo: David Ausserhofer