Mean markets or kind commerce?

Martin Dufwenberg, Olof Johansson-Stenman, Michael Kirchler, Florian Lindner and Rene Schwaiger

Journal of Public Economics, 2022, vol. 209, issue C

Abstract: Does market interaction influence morality? We study a particular angle of this classic question theoretically and experimentally. The novelty of our approach is to posit that people are motivated by reciprocity – an urge many argue affects humans. While many have suggested that market interactions make people more selfish, our reciprocity-based theory allows that market interaction on the contrary induces more prosociality. Our experiment provides a test of the empirical relevance of such an effect, in some highly stylized settings. The results are broadly (but not completely) supportive. They may shed light on the development of morality and prosocial behavior over time, with respect to episodes in history where the nature of commerce was transformed.

Keywords: Markets; Morality; Prosociality; Reciprocity; Kindness; Autarky; Barter; Money (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C92 D02 D91 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:209:y:2022:i:c:s0047272722000500

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpubeco.2022.104648

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