Altruism and Economic Behavior, I Developments in the Theory of Public and Private Redistribution

David A. Kennett

American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 1980, vol. 39, issue 2, 183-198

Abstract: Abstract. The principal recent contributions from economics toward the understanding of behavior that is, or seems to be, altruistic, are discussed. Relevant developments in anthropology, biology and psychology are also introduced. Most of these models rely on some form of sophisticated goal maximization (attainment of power, genetic propagation, long‐term influence or even material benefit by means of a complex dynamic game strategy) and hence describe quasialtruistic behavior which is, in fact, consistent with individual welfare maximization. When looking at the public sector, government redistributive programs are considered by some to be expressions of collective altruism but these in fact have their roots in an implicit social contract enforced by the coercive power of the State. Genuine altruism must be action taken without expectation of reward or coercion and it is not to be found in models of concealed requirement or in forcible redistribution. A subsequent article discusses the area in which private activity can achieve more efficiently the redistributive objective.

Date: 1980
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