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The Deadweight Loss of Diwali: A Developing Country Perspective on Economics of Gift Giving

Author

Listed:
  • Parag Waknis

    (University of Massachusetts Dartmouth)

  • Ajit Gaikwad

    (Manghanmal Udharam College of Commerce)

Abstract

Using survey responses of undergraduate students from a college in India, we conducted an empirical analysis of efficiency of non-monetary gifts exchanged on the occasion of Diwali similar to analysis for Christmas in Waldfogel (1993). We found an average deadweight loss of 15% on all gifts, with gifts of accessories and electronic goods showing a lower loss compared to other types of gifts. We also found that lesser the generational distance between the person gifting and the receiver, lower is the deadweight loss. In addition, there is weak evidence supporting differences in valuation of gifts based on closeness of familial ties as understood in this cultural context. We, however, did not find any systematic difference in valuation of gifts by gender of the recipients.

Suggested Citation

  • Parag Waknis & Ajit Gaikwad, 2017. "The Deadweight Loss of Diwali: A Developing Country Perspective on Economics of Gift Giving," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 37(1), pages 530-538.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-16-00541
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Joel Waldfogel, 2005. "Does Consumer Irrationality Trump Consumer Sovereignty?," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 87(4), pages 691-696, November.
    2. Bauer Thomas K. & Schmidt Christoph M., 2012. "WTP vs. WTA: Christmas Presents and the Endowment Effect," Journal of Economics and Statistics (Jahrbuecher fuer Nationaloekonomie und Statistik), De Gruyter, vol. 232(1), pages 4-11, February.
    3. Jack L. Knetsch & J. A. Sinden, 1984. "Willingness to Pay and Compensation Demanded: Experimental Evidence of an Unexpected Disparity in Measures of Value," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 99(3), pages 507-521.
    4. Orit Tykocinski & Bradley J. Ruffle, 2000. "The Deadweight Loss of Christmas: Comment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 90(1), pages 319-324, March.
    5. List, John A & Shogren, Jason F, 1998. "The Deadweight Loss of Christmas: Comment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 88(5), pages 1350-1355, December.
    6. 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.
    7. Waldfogel, Joel, 1993. "The Deadweight Loss of Christmas," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 83(5), pages 1328-1336, December.
    8. Prendergast, Canice & Stole, Lars, 2001. "The non-monetary nature of gifts," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 45(10), pages 1793-1810, December.
    9. Solnick, Sara J & Hemenway, David, 1996. "The Deadweight Loss of Christmas: Comment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 86(5), pages 1299-1305, December.
    10. John List & Jason Shogren, 1998. "The Deadweight Loss from Christmas: Comment," Artefactual Field Experiments 00531, The Field Experiments Website.
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    Cited by:

    1. Vic Benuyenah, 2021. "Face-saving and Seasonal Gifts: Analysis of Cultural Exchanges in the Confucian Market Place," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 11(2), pages 59-66.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    consumer behavior; deadweight loss; efficiency; non-monetary gifts.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D1 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior
    • Z1 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics

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