Comments on: Scroogenomics vs Ulterior Motives (and Other Justifications for Gift Giving) http://messymatters.com/2009/12/31/scrooge/ Bring Your Own Data Sat, 17 Jul 2010 16:50:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Vincent Conitzer http://messymatters.com/2009/12/31/scrooge/comment-page-1/#comment-1328 Vincent Conitzer Fri, 01 Jan 2010 23:05:03 +0000 http://messymatters.com/?p=552#comment-1328 I think 2 (signaling value) is the big one, proving one's ability to empathize with the recipient (as well as proving effort spent on trying to empathize, which presumably has other long-term benefits for the relationship). This also explains why cash and gift cards are often seen as "bad" presents -- while you get $1 or $.99 of value for the dollar, it doesn't show that you understand the other's desires and needs. Another one: sometimes you can give someone something that he will enjoy but would have been embarrassed to get for himself. E.g., if Homer buys a bowling ball for himself (not as a gift), this sends a signal to others that he cares more about bowling than about his family -- a signal he may be reluctant to send. However, if Marge buys Homer a bowling ball, Homer is "off the hook" -- he couldn't help getting the bowling ball, plus there is a signal that Marge thinks Homer is a good father who deserves a break, which is part of the present. I think 2 (signaling value) is the big one, proving one’s ability to empathize with the recipient (as well as proving effort spent on trying to empathize, which presumably has other long-term benefits for the relationship). This also explains why cash and gift cards are often seen as “bad” presents — while you get $1 or $.99 of value for the dollar, it doesn’t show that you understand the other’s desires and needs.

Another one: sometimes you can give someone something that he will enjoy but would have been embarrassed to get for himself. E.g., if Homer buys a bowling ball for himself (not as a gift), this sends a signal to others that he cares more about bowling than about his family — a signal he may be reluctant to send. However, if Marge buys Homer a bowling ball, Homer is “off the hook” — he couldn’t help getting the bowling ball, plus there is a signal that Marge thinks Homer is a good father who deserves a break, which is part of the present.

]]> By: Jeff Ely http://messymatters.com/2009/12/31/scrooge/comment-page-1/#comment-1325 Jeff Ely Fri, 01 Jan 2010 16:30:47 +0000 http://messymatters.com/?p=552#comment-1325 dear dan: of all the poser economists, you are my second-favorite. Let's pose together sometime. Happy new year. Jeff dear dan:

of all the poser economists, you are my second-favorite. Let’s pose together sometime. Happy new year.

Jeff

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