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Mutual Interest, Self-enforcing Constitutions and Apparent Generosity

In: The Economics of Reciprocity, Giving and Altruism

Author

Listed:
  • Alessandro Cigno

    (University of Florence)

  • Furio C. Rosati

    (University of Rome ‘Tor Vergata’)

Abstract

We say that a person is an altruist if all they obtain doing something for others is the pleasure of making those others happy. We do not call it altruism, however, when a person expects a reward for doing something (or fears punishment for not doing it). If the link between giving and taking is direct and explicit, we speak of exchange. But, very often in human relations, the link between giving and taking is implicit and unspoken, and the quid pro quo so distant and indirect that what one does for others has all the appearance of a gift, or a free service.

Suggested Citation

  • Alessandro Cigno & Furio C. Rosati, 2000. "Mutual Interest, Self-enforcing Constitutions and Apparent Generosity," International Economic Association Series, in: L.-A. Gérard-Varet & S.-C. Kolm & J. Mercier Ythier (ed.), The Economics of Reciprocity, Giving and Altruism, chapter 12, pages 226-247, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:intecp:978-1-349-62745-5_12
    DOI: 10.1007/978-1-349-62745-5_12
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Wolff, Francois-Charles & Laferrere, Anne, 2006. "Microeconomic models of family transfers," Handbook on the Economics of Giving, Reciprocity and Altruism, in: S. Kolm & Jean Mercier Ythier (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Giving, Altruism and Reciprocity, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 13, pages 889-969, Elsevier.
    2. Alessandro Cigno & Gianna Giannelli & Furio Rosati & Daniela Vuri, 2006. "Is there such a thing as a family constitution? A test based on credit rationing," Review of Economics of the Household, Springer, vol. 4(3), pages 183-204, September.
    3. Bishnu, Monisankar & Garg, Shresth & Garg, Tishara & Ray, Tridip, 2023. "Intergenerational transfers: Public education and pensions with endogenous fertility," Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    4. Alessandro Cigno & Mizuki Komura & Annalisa Luporini, 2017. "Self-enforcing family rules, marriage and the (non)neutrality of public intervention," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 30(3), pages 805-834, July.
    5. Alessandro Cigno, 2006. "A constitutional theory of the family," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 19(2), pages 259-283, June.
    6. Cigno, A., 2016. "Conflict and Cooperation Within the Family, and Between the State and the Family, in the Provision of Old-Age Security," Handbook of the Economics of Population Aging, in: Piggott, John & Woodland, Alan (ed.), Handbook of the Economics of Population Aging, edition 1, volume 1, chapter 0, pages 609-660, Elsevier.
    7. Jonathan Meer & Harvey S Rosen, 2007. "Altruism and the Child-Cycle of Alumni Donations," Working Papers 150, Princeton University, Department of Economics, Center for Economic Policy Studies..
    8. Francavilla, Francesca & Giannelli, Gianna Claudia & Grilli, Leonardo, 2008. "School Attendance of Children and the Work of Mothers: A Joint Multilevel Model for India," IZA Discussion Papers 3531, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Gianna Claudia Giannelli & Francesca Francavilla, 2007. "The Relation between Child Labour and Mothers’ Work: The Case of India," CHILD Working Papers wp22_07, CHILD - Centre for Household, Income, Labour and Demographic economics - ITALY.
    10. Jonathan Meer & Harvey S. Rosen, 2007. "Altruism and the Child-Cycle of Alumni Giving," NBER Working Papers 13152, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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