Distributional Preferences, Reciprocity-Like Behavior, and Efficiency in Bilateral Exchange

B-Tier
Journal: American Economic Journal: Microeconomics
Year: 2015
Volume: 7
Issue: 1
Pages: 70-98

Score contribution per author:

2.011 = (α=2.01 / 1 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

Under what conditions do distributional preferences, such as altruism or a concern for fair outcomes, generate efficient trade? I analyze theoretically a simple bilateral exchange game: each player sequentially takes an action that reduces his own material payoff but increases the other player's. Each player's preferences may depend on both his/her own material payoff and the other player's. I identify two key properties of the second-mover's preferences: indifference curves kinked around "fair" material-payoff distributions, and materials payoffs entering preferences as "normal goods". Either property can drive reciprocity-like behavior and generate a Pareto efficient outcome. (JEL C78, D63, D64)

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:aea:aejmic:v:7:y:2015:i:1:p:70-98
Journal Field
General
Author Count
1
Added to Database
2026-01-24