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Are Family Transfers Crowded Out by Public Transfers?

Author

Listed:
  • Werner GÜth
  • Theo Offerman
  • Jan Potters
  • Martin Strobel
  • Harrie A. A. Verbon

Abstract

We give an account of an overlapping–generations experiment with multiple families in which voluntary transfers can take the form of support to the elderly or grants to children. Support to the old is a purely intergenerational (intra–family) transfer, whereas grants to children also involve an element of intra–generational (inter–family) redistribution through a compulsory pension system. Our data show that higher compulsory inter–family transfers lead subjects to place relatively more emphasis on support instead of grants: grants are crowded out, but support is not significantly affected. The efficiency of voluntary transfers increases, however. Furthermore, if subjects give transfers, they do not use tokens of direct reciprocity; evidence of indirect reciprocity in transfer behavior can only be obtained for the case where compulsory transfers are high. JEL classification: C91; H55

Suggested Citation

  • Werner GÜth & Theo Offerman & Jan Potters & Martin Strobel & Harrie A. A. Verbon, 2002. "Are Family Transfers Crowded Out by Public Transfers?," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 104(4), pages 587-604, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:scandj:v:104:y:2002:i:4:p:587-604
    DOI: 10.1111/1467-9442.00303
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    2. Haizhen Mou & Stanley L. Winer, 2015. "Fiscal Incidence When Family Structure Matters," Public Finance Review, , vol. 43(3), pages 373-401, May.
    3. Sandra García & Jorge Cuartas, 2017. "With a Little Help from my Friends: the Multiplier Effect of Public Subsidies through Private Support," Documentos de trabajo 17647, Escuela de Gobierno - Universidad de los Andes.
    4. Haizhen Mou & Stanley L. Winer, 2010. "Fiscal Incidence When Both Individual Welfare and Family Structure Matter: The Case of Subsidization of Home -care for the Elderly," ICER Working Papers 15-2010, ICER - International Centre for Economic Research.
    5. Karagozoglu, Emin & Riedl, Arno, 2010. "Information, Uncertainty, and Subjective Entitlements in Bargaining," IZA Discussion Papers 5079, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    6. Artidiatun Adji & James Alm & Paul J. Ferraro, 2009. "Experimental tests of Ricardian equivalence with distortionary versus nondistortionary taxes," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 29(4), pages 2556-2572.
    7. Marianna Baggio & Luigi Mittone, 2019. "Grandparents Matter: Perspectives on Intergenerational Altruism and a Pilot Intergenerational Public Good Experiment," Homo Oeconomicus: Journal of Behavioral and Institutional Economics, Springer, vol. 35(4), pages 255-276, April.

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • C91 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Design of Experiments - - - Laboratory, Individual Behavior
    • H55 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Social Security and Public Pensions

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