On the channels of pro-social behavior evidence from a natural field experiment

We conduct a natural field experiment on direct and indirect transfer mechanisms for small donations. Charitable contributions are significantly higher if made indirectly, i.e. if they are tied to the purchase of a good sold at a premium, than if they are made directly. Donations are signficantly higher under both transfer mechanisms if people are given a suggested reference donatio -- Tied versus untied transfers ; charitable donations ; charity ; willingness to give ; pro social behavior