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  5. Distributional Preferences, Reciprocity-Like Behavior, and Efficiency in Bilateral Exchange

Distributional Preferences, Reciprocity-Like Behavior, and Efficiency in Bilateral Exchange

File(s)
ICS_Distributional_Preferences.pdf (1.07 MB)
Permanent Link(s)
https://hdl.handle.net/1813/73173
Collections
Institute for Compensation Studies
Author
Benjamin, Daniel J.
Abstract

Under what conditions do distributional preferences, such as altruism or a concern for fair outcomes, generate efficient trade? I analyze theoretically a simple bilateral exchange game: each player sequentially takes an action that reduces his own material payoff but increases the other player’s. Each player’s preferences may depend on both his/her own material payoff and the other player’s. I identify two key properties of the second-mover’s preferences: indifference curves kinked around “fair” material-payoff distributions, and materials payoffs entering preferences as “normal goods.” Either property can drive reciprocity-like behavior and generate a Pareto efficient outcome.

Date Issued
2013-08-31
Keywords
distributional preferences
•
fairness
•
altruism
•
gift exchange
•
rotten kid theorem
Related To
https://hdl.handle.net/1813/73188
Rights
Required Publisher Statement: © American Economic Association. Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.
Type
preprint

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