Conspicuous generosity

• 成果类型: Article; Proceedings Paper
• 署名作者: Ellingsen, Tore; Johannesson, Magnus
• 署名单位: Stockholm School of Economics
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2011.05.002
• 发表日期: 2011
• 页码: 1131-1143
• 关键词: Altruism; Non-monetary gifts; Volunteering

摘要

We develop a simple model of generous behavior. It is based on the premise that some people are generous, but everyone wants to appear generous-especially in the eyes of other generous people. Although non-monetary donations are always inefficient, they frequently occur in equilibrium because they facilitate signaling. The model helps to explain the prevalence of volunteering, the nature of Christmas gifts, and the taboo against paying cash in return for friendly favors. Finally, and perhaps most notably, the model explains why it is so common to ask for non-monetary favors and so uncommon to ask for money. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.