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Why Social Preferences Matter -- The Impact of Non-Selfish Motives on Competition, Cooperation and Incentives

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Author Info
Ernst Fehr (University of Zurich)
Urs Fischbacher (University of Zurich)

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Abstract

A substantial number of people exhibit social preferences, which means they are not solely motivated by material self-interest but also care positively or negatively for the material payoffs of relevant reference agents. We show empirically that economists fail to understand fundamental economic questions when they disregard social preferences, in particular, that without taking social preferences into account, it is not possible to understand adequately (i) effects of competition on market outcomes, (ii) laws governing cooperation and collective action, (iii) effects and the determinants of material incentives, (iv) which contracts and property rights arrangements are optimal, and (v) important forces shaping social norms and market failures. Copyright Royal Economic Society 2002.

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Article provided by Royal Economic Society in its journal Economic Journal.

Volume (Year): 112 (2002)
Issue (Month): 478 (March)
Pages: C1-C33
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Handle: RePEc:ecj:econjl:v:112:y:2002:i:478:p:c1-c33

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