What do donations buy? A model of philanthropy based on prestige and warm glow

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Harbaugh, WT
• 署名单位: University of Oregon
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0047-2727
• DOI: 10.1016/S0047-2727(97)00062-5
• 发表日期: 1998
• 页码: 269-284
• 关键词: nonprofits; philanthropy; public goods; altruism

摘要

Charities publicize the donations they receive, generally according to dollar categories rather than the exact amount. Donors in turn tend to give the minimum amount necessary to get into a category. These facts suggest that donors have a taste for having their donations made public. This paper models the effects of such a taste for prestige on the behavior of donors and charities. I show how a taste for prestige means that charities can increase donations by using categories. The paper also discusses the effect of a taste for prestige on competition between charities. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.