Conspicuous generosity

Tore Ellingsen and Magnus Johannesson

Journal of Public Economics, 2011, vol. 95, issue 9, 1131-1143

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: Altruism; Non–monetary gifts; Volunteering (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 J20 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (58)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:95:y:2011:i:9:p:1131-1143

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2011.05.002

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