Abstract

We develop a simple framework from within microeconomics to illustrate the welfare benefits of supporting altruism in an economy. The framework is based on an adapted theory of consumer behavior where an individual is exposed to the pursuit of altruistic and self-fulfilling egoistical goals. We also distinguish between two types of welfare benefits that emerge from the pursuit of these different goals and demonstrate the presence of a welfare benefit transformation frontier. The framework permits the evaluation of policy instruments such as tax incentives and legislations to promote altruistic behavior

Keywords

Altruism; Economic policy; Microeconomics; Social benefits; Social welfare

Published in

International Journal of Social Economics
2005, volume: 32, number: 10, pages: 868-876

Authors' information