Asymmetry of Information within Family Networks

Joachim De Weerdt, Garance Genicot and Alice Mesnard

Journal of Human Resources, 2019, vol. 54, issue 1, 225-254

Abstract: This paper studies asymmetry of information and transfers within 712 extended family networks from Tanzania. Using cross-reports on asset holdings, we construct measures of misperception of living standards among households within the same network. We contrast altruism, pressure, exchange, and risk sharing as motives to transfer in simple models with asymmetric information. Testing the model predictions in the data uncovers the active role played by recipients of transfers. Our findings suggest that recipients set the terms of the transfers, either by exerting pressure on donors or because they hold substantial bargaining power in their exchange relationships.

JEL-codes: D12 O12 O15 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
Note: DOI: 10.3368/jhr.54.1.0616.8023R1
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

Downloads: (external link)
http://jhr.uwpress.org/cgi/reprint/54/1/225
A subscription is required to access pdf files. Pay per article is available.

Related works:
Working Paper: Asymmetry of Information within Family Networks (2015)
Working Paper: Asymmetry of Information within Family Networks (2014)
Working Paper: Asymmetry of Information within Family Networks (2014)
Working Paper: Asymmetry of information within family networks (2014)
Working Paper: Asymmetry of Information within Family Networks (2014)
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:uwp:jhriss:v:54:y:2019:i:1:p:225-254

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Journal of Human Resources from University of Wisconsin Press
Bibliographic data for series maintained by ().