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A Kantian-economic approach to altruism in the household

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  • Mark D White

    (Department of Philosophy, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island, NY, USA (e-mail: profmdwhite@hotmail.com))

Abstract

Economists who study the family acknowledge the importance of altruism and resource allocation that occurs between family members, and have developed a number of novel approaches to modelling this behaviour. This article suggests a new method, based on the moral philosophy of Immanuel Kant, which will highlight several unique features of intrafamily altruism. After summarizing Kant’s ethics and how it can be incorporated into the standard economic model of choice, I show how Kantian concepts of perfect and imperfect duty cast the standard models of intrafamily altruism and resource allocation in a new light. The inclusion of duty into the modelling explains how altruistic behaviour can continue when the affection has left a marriage, and blurs the lines between cooperative and non-cooperative models of resource allocation by highlighting the importance of binding commitment without external enforcement.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark D White, 2015. "A Kantian-economic approach to altruism in the household," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 1(palcomms2), pages 15005-15005, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palcom:v:2015:y:2015:i:palcomms20155:p:15005-
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    Cited by:

    1. Felix Joseph Chille, 2020. "The Influence of Street Vending Business on Household Characteristics in Dar es Salaam and Coast Region in Tanzania," International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), vol. 4(10), pages 481-486, October.

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