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The Demand for Social Approval and Status as a Motivation to Give

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  • Jeroen van de Ven

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explain gift giving as due to a demand for social approval and status. In a simple framework we are able to account for a number of stylized facts. These are that gift giving is often reciprocal, that gifts tend to be inadequate, and that gift giving is sometimes reduced after a monetary compensation is offered. The implication for the interaction between gift giving and the market institution is that implementing price incentives in a nonmarket environment can be welfare-decreasing.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeroen van de Ven, 2002. "The Demand for Social Approval and Status as a Motivation to Give," Journal of Institutional and Theoretical Economics (JITE), Mohr Siebeck, Tübingen, vol. 158(3), pages 464-482, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:mhr:jinste:urn:sici:0932-4569(200209)158:3_464:tdfsaa_2.0.tx_2-t
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    Cited by:

    1. Dipankar Purkayastha, 2004. "A theory of reciprocal gifts," Atlantic Economic Journal, Springer;International Atlantic Economic Society, vol. 32(4), pages 312-319, December.
    2. Ulf Liebe & Heidi Bruderer Enzler & Andreas Diekmann & Peter Preisendörfer, 2024. "One Justice for All? Social Dilemmas, Environmental Risks and Different Notions of Distributive Justice," Games, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-23, July.
    3. Fellner, Gerlinde & Lünser, Gabriele K., 2014. "Cooperation in local and global groups," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 364-373.
    4. Principe, Kristine E. & Eisenhauer, Joseph G., 2009. "Gift-giving and deadweight loss," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 38(2), pages 215-220, March.
    5. Platteau, Jean-Philippe & Sekeris, Petros G., 2010. "On the feasibility of power and status ranking in traditional setups," Journal of Comparative Economics, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 267-282, September.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • A10 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - General
    • A12 - General Economics and Teaching - - General Economics - - - Relation of Economics to Other Disciplines
    • D10 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - General
    • D60 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - General

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