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Altruistic Capital

Author

Listed:
  • Nava Ashraf
  • Oriana Bandiera

Abstract

To understand altruistic behavior, we must understand the process through which altruism develops and is shaped by the agents' own choices and exogenous factors. We introduce the concept of altruistic capital, which grows with effort devoted to altruistic acts and facilitates future altruism. We illustrate its potential use in the context of banking and conclude by showing that returns to altruistic effort shape the agent's choices and are shaped by external events such as the financial crisis.

Suggested Citation

  • Nava Ashraf & Oriana Bandiera, 2017. "Altruistic Capital," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 107(5), pages 70-75, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:aea:aecrev:v:107:y:2017:i:5:p:70-75
    Note: DOI: 10.1257/aer.p20171097
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Arzi Adbi & Ajay Bhaskarabhatla & Chirantan Chatterjee, 2020. "Stakeholder Orientation and Market Impact: Evidence from India," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 161(2), pages 479-496, January.
    2. Simon Briole & Marc Gurgand & Eric Maurin & Sandra McNally & Jenifer Ruiz-Valenzuela & Daniel Santin, 2022. "The making of civic virtues: a school-based experiment in three countries," CEP Discussion Papers dp1830, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
    3. Ghouwa Ismail & Ashley Van Niekerk, 2021. "Validation of an Assessment Tool to Measure Psycho-Social Factors Associated With Willingness to Participate in Child-Centered Initiatives," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(3), pages 21582440211, September.
    4. Robert Dur & Max van Lent, 2019. "Socially Useless Jobs," Industrial Relations: A Journal of Economy and Society, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(1), pages 3-16, January.
    5. Kosse, Fabian & Tincani, Michaela M., 2020. "Prosociality predicts labor market success around the world," Munich Reprints in Economics 75115, University of Munich, Department of Economics.
    6. Max Deter, 2020. "Prosociality and Risk Preferences in the Financial Sector," SOEPpapers on Multidisciplinary Panel Data Research 1075, DIW Berlin, The German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP).
    7. Patacchini, Eleonora & Barrett, Christopher & , & Walker, Thomas, 2019. "Altruism, Insurance, And Costly Solidarity Commitments1," CEPR Discussion Papers 14148, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    8. Md. Anwar Hossain & Crispin H. V. Cooper, 2021. "Spatial network analysis as a tool for measuring change in accessibility over time: Limits of transport investment as a driver for UK regional development," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 52(4), pages 2124-2148, December.
    9. Jordan van Rijn & Shuwei Zeng & Paul Hellman, 2021. "Financial institution objectives and auto loan pricing: Evidence from the survey of consumer finances," Journal of Consumer Affairs, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(3), pages 995-1039, September.
    10. Anand, Amitabh & Vessal, Saeedeh Rezeaee & Rathi, Kishore & Ameen, Nisreen, 2021. "Show me your mobile and I will tell you who you are: Forecasting consumer compassion and altruism behaviour through smartphone type and usage," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 63(C).
    11. Vesall Nourani & Christopher Barrett & Eleonora Patacchini & Thomas Walker, 2019. "Working Paper 313 - Altruism, Insurance, and Costly Solidarity Commitments," Working Paper Series 2439, African Development Bank.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • D11 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Theory
    • D63 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Equity, Justice, Inequality, and Other Normative Criteria and Measurement
    • D64 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Altruism; Philanthropy; Intergenerational Transfers

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