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Shocking gift exchange

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  • Kujansuu, Essi
  • Schram, Arthur

Abstract

We study how a gift exchange labor market reacts to the occurrence of negative shocks. One-round shocks may hit either workers’ wages or employers’ earnings (via worker productivity). In our model, other-regarding preferences suffice to predict gift exchange and wages above the competitive level. Wage rigidity is predicted if we add wage illusion and loss aversion. Using a real-effort laboratory experiment, we find support for the model. When there are no shocks, there is gift exchange. After a wage shock we see strong nominal wage rigidity and no impact on workers’ effort, as predicted. Rigidity is also observed after a productivity shock, but here we do observe increases in effort, especially at low wages. The latter is contrary to the model predictions and suggests that productivity shocks alter gift-exchange patterns. We conclude that the wage rigidity often observed in the field can be explained by boundedly rational workers with social preferences.

Suggested Citation

  • Kujansuu, Essi & Schram, Arthur, 2021. "Shocking gift exchange," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 188(C), pages 783-810.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:188:y:2021:i:c:p:783-810
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2021.05.032
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Charles A. Holt & Sean P. Sullivan, 2023. "Permutation tests for experimental data," Experimental Economics, Springer;Economic Science Association, vol. 26(4), pages 775-812, September.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Gift exchange; Shocks; Wage rigidity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General
    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior

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