Voluntary Interaction and the Principle of Mutual Benefit

• 成果类型: Article; Early Access
• 署名作者: Isoni, Andrea; Sugden, Robert; Zheng, Jiwei
• 署名单位: University of Warwick; University of Cagliari; University of East Anglia; Lancaster University
• 刊物名称: JOURNAL OF POLITICAL ECONOMY
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0022-3808
• DOI: 10.1086/722930
• 发表日期: 2023
• 关键词: social preferences; promises; RECIPROCITY; altruism; fairness; empathy; morals; trust; games; team

摘要

Most social preference theories are based on observations of nonvoluntary interactions. Nonselfish behavior may take fundamentally different forms in voluntary interactions, such as market transactions. We investigate the Principle of Mutual Benefit-an injunctive norm requiring individuals who enter interactions voluntarily to conform to common expectations about behavior within them. This norm induces patterns of behavior inconsistent with existing social preference theories and allows extrinsic incentives to crowd in trustworthiness. We embed this norm in a model consistent with evidence about promise keeping, gift exchange, and avoiding the ask. We present new experimental evidence that people adhere to it.