Paper #368

Títol:

Altruism, equity and reciprocity in a gift-exchange experiment: An encompassing approach

Autors:

Gary Charness i Ernan Haruvy

Data:

Març 1999

Resum:

Considerable experimental evidence suggests that non-pecuniary motives must be addressed when modeling behavior in economic contexts. Recent models of non-pecuniary motives can be classified as either altruism- based, equity-based, or reciprocity-based. We estimate and compare leading approaches in these categories, using experimental data. We then offer a flexible approach that nests the above three approaches, thereby allowing for nested hypothesis testing and for determining the relative strength of each of the competing theories. In addition, the encompassing approach provides a functional form for utility in different settings without the restrictive nature of the approaches nested within it. Using this flexible form for nested tests, we find that intentional reciprocity, distributive concerns, and altruistic considerations all play a significant role in players' decisions.

Paraules clau:

Altruism, experiment, equity, encompassing, fairness, inequality aversion, reciprocity, Leex

Codis JEL:

A13, C50, C70, C91, D21, J30

Àrea de Recerca:

Economia Experimental i del Comportament

Publicat a:

Games and Economic Behavior, 40(2002), 2, pp. 203-231

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