Altruism and occupation under survival uncertainty

Shankha Chakraborty and Mausumi Das ()
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Mausumi Das: Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi

Indian Economic Review, 2023, vol. 58, issue 1, No 9, 149-162

Abstract: Abstract This paper explores the link between mortality and growth under endogenous altruism. Three characteristic features of an underdeveloped economy are concentration of economic activity in primary production, high mortality and incomplete markets. We link these to illustrate how strong intergeneration altruistic links develop endogenously in response to a high mortality environment. Altruistic parents choose to invest in disembodied assets like land rather than embodied assets like human capital so that in case the parent dies prematurely, the asset can be passed on to their progeny. This pattern of investment leads to choice of occupations, where land plays an important role. Land-based primary occupations also allow parents to spend time with their children which further strengthens the altruistic link. High mortality, high altruism, and investment in land and primary production may persist for a long time until mortality improvement triggers a transition towards skill-based manufacturing and tertiary production.

Keywords: Mortality; Altruism; Structural change; Occupational choice (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I10 O10 O40 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s41775-023-00170-3

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