Leading by example with and without exclusionpower in voluntary contribution experiments

We examine the effects of leading by example in voluntary contributionexperiments. Leadership is implemented by letting one group membercontribute to the public good before followers do. Such leadershipincreases contributions in comparison to the standard voluntary contributionmechanism, especially so when it goes along with authorityin the form of granting the leader exclusion power. Whether leadershipis fixed or rotating among group members has no significant influenceon contributions. Only a minority of groups succeeds in endogenouslyinstalling a leader, even though groups with leaders are much moreefficient than groups without a leader.