How to make promises without having to fulfill them? An application to the food stamp program (SNAP) and rebate schemes

Douadia Bougherara, Gilles Grolleau () and Naoufel Mzoughi

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Abstract: In line with Veblen's contributions on the "dark side" of commercial and political relationships, we show how promises can be used to manipulate the "common man." By imposing excessive access costs on potential promisees (e.g., citizens or consumers), a promiser (e.g., a politician or a firm) can benefit from making a promise without having to wholly fulfill it. These strategically manipulated access costs can be legitimized by the need to prevent abuse and fraud that exempts the promiser from being accused of cheating. Here, two case studies on promises offered to eligible households the Food Stamp/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and rebates are developed. Some policy implications are drawn and extensions are suggested

Keywords: ACCESS COSTS; HOUSEHOLDS; PROMISES; MARKETING STRATEGIES; PERSONAL INCOME; CONSUMER BEHAVIOR; TAUX DE REMISE; PROMESSE; STRATEGIE POLITIQUE; food relief; comportement des consommateurs; économie; discrimination; aide alimentaire; stratégie commerciale; revenu (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-01462462v1
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Published in Journal of Economic Issues, 2010, 44 (4), pp.1085-1094. ⟨10.2753/JEI0021-3624440412⟩

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Journal Article: How to Make Promises Without Having to Fulfill Them: An Application to the Food Stamp Program (SNAP) and Rebate Schemes (2010)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01462462

DOI: 10.2753/JEI0021-3624440412

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