Expected neediness and the formation of mutual support arrangements: Evidence from the Philippines

This paper studies the role of expected neediness for the formation of mutual support arrangements between households. I predict that under strategic link formation in the context of risk-sharing, households with fewer resources and thus a higher probability to become needy have a higher incentive to engage in informal support, yet mutual support arrangements should be less likely between households that differ in their expected neediness. The predictions are tested using census support network data of a fishing village on the Philippines. I show that households are indeed more likely to form mutual support arrangements with households that face a similar probability of neediness; yet, households with fewer resources are not necessarily more likely to engage in mutual support. Furthermore, I document substantial differences in the structure of reciprocated and unreciprocated support links that need to be accounted for in the analysis of support arrangements.