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Can Altruism Hinder Cooperation?

Author

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  • Keisuke Nakao

    (College of Business and Economics, University of Hawaii, Hilo)

Abstract

This note considers the effects of altruism on cooperation in the context of a repeated Prisoner's Dilemma. Altruism has two conflicting impacts on cooperation: One is to reduce the temptation for defection the other is to make the future punishment ineffective. The total effect of altruism hinges on the shape of players'' cost functions.

Suggested Citation

  • Keisuke Nakao, 2008. "Can Altruism Hinder Cooperation?," Economics Bulletin, AccessEcon, vol. 4(26), pages 1-6.
    • Handle: RePEc:ebl:ecbull:eb-08d70029
    as

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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Bernheim, B Douglas & Stark, Oded, 1988. "Altruism within the Family Reconsidered: Do Nice Guys Finish Last?," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 78(5), pages 1034-1045, December.
    6. Andreoni, James, 1990. "Impure Altruism and Donations to Public Goods: A Theory of Warm-Glow Giving?," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 100(401), pages 464-477, June.
    7. Lindbeck, Assar & Weibull, Jorgen W, 1988. "Altruism and Time Consistency: The Economics of Fait Accompli," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 96(6), pages 1165-1182, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hwang, Sung-Ha & Bowles, Samuel, 2012. "Is altruism bad for cooperation?," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 83(3), pages 330-341.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Continuous Prisoner's Dilemma;

    JEL classification:

    • D7 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making

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