Comments on: Economist As Scrooge http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/01/economist-as-sc.html Overcoming Bias is economist Robin Hanson’s blog, on honesty, signaling, disagreement, forecasting, and the far future. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:20:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Nathan O'Sullivan http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/01/economist-as-sc.html#comment-409414 Nathan O'Sullivan Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:17:14 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2008/01/economist-as-scrooge.html#comment-409414 Has the gift-giving-as-signaling hypothesis been empirically tested? The test seems rather easy--just compare giving under normal and anonymous conditions. If giving is reduced in the latter case (as I expect it would be), we conclude that signaling is a factor. Has the gift-giving-as-signaling hypothesis been empirically tested? The test seems rather easy–just compare giving under normal and anonymous conditions. If giving is reduced in the latter case (as I expect it would be), we conclude that signaling is a factor.

]]> By: Doug S. http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/01/economist-as-sc.html#comment-409413 Doug S. Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:40:50 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2008/01/economist-as-scrooge.html#comment-409413 <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Missionary_Position_%28book%29" rel="nofollow">Some people have a rather different view of Mother Teresa.</a> Some people have a rather different view of Mother Teresa.

]]> By: Tracy W http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/01/economist-as-sc.html#comment-409412 Tracy W Fri, 18 Jan 2008 11:54:23 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2008/01/economist-as-scrooge.html#comment-409412 <i>When Albert Schweitzer or Mother Teresa gave a glass of cold water to a thirsty patient what were they doing?</i> When a billionaire gives money to establish a hospital be called "The Joe Billionaire Hospital for Children", what was he doing? Indeed, moral teachers have often been so concerned about the signalling incentives of lavish gifts that they have called for giving gifts secretly. How many people are like you and Mother Teresa - giving only because you care - and how many give for reasons like the rich people who put their names on hospitals - is a serious question and one I don't know the answer to. I suspect though that there is a significant amount of gift giving that is mostly done for the purpose of signalling. When Albert Schweitzer or Mother Teresa gave
a glass of cold water to a thirsty patient
what were they doing?

When a billionaire gives money to establish a hospital be called “The Joe Billionaire Hospital for Children”, what was he doing?

Indeed, moral teachers have often been so concerned about the signalling incentives of lavish gifts that they have called for giving gifts secretly.

How many people are like you and Mother Teresa – giving only because you care – and how many give for reasons like the rich people who put their names on hospitals – is a serious question and one I don’t know the answer to. I suspect though that there is a significant amount of gift giving that is mostly done for the purpose of signalling.

]]> By: Robin Hanson http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/01/economist-as-sc.html#comment-409411 Robin Hanson Fri, 18 Jan 2008 00:42:32 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2008/01/economist-as-scrooge.html#comment-409411 John, you can't show that you care if you don't care. Even so, you can care to show that you care, in addition to directly caring. John, you can’t show that you care if you don’t care. Even so, you can care to show that you care, in addition to directly caring.

]]> By: Shakespeare's Fool http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/01/economist-as-sc.html#comment-409410 Shakespeare's Fool Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:57:26 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2008/01/economist-as-scrooge.html#comment-409410 Robin, Help me understand. When I write a poem for "Mrs. Shakespeare" for her birthday or our anniversary, am I showing her no love but only signaling? When Albert Schweitzer or Mother Teresa gave a glass of cold water to a thirsty patient what were they doing? John Robin,
Help me understand.

When I write a poem for “Mrs. Shakespeare” for
her birthday or our anniversary, am I showing
her no love but only signaling?

When Albert Schweitzer or Mother Teresa gave
a glass of cold water to a thirsty patient
what were they doing?

John

]]> By: Robin Hanson http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/01/economist-as-sc.html#comment-409409 Robin Hanson Wed, 16 Jan 2008 02:28:50 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2008/01/economist-as-scrooge.html#comment-409409 I've added a section the the post, with Mansfield's reply and my response. I’ve added a section the the post, with Mansfield’s reply and my response.

]]> By: Dr. Zeuss http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/01/economist-as-sc.html#comment-409408 Dr. Zeuss Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:48:49 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2008/01/economist-as-scrooge.html#comment-409408 One reason there might be not enough gift-giving is people undervaluing the warm fuzzy feelings of others. One reason there might be not enough gift-giving is people undervaluing the warm fuzzy feelings of others.

]]> By: Richard Pointer http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/01/economist-as-sc.html#comment-409407 Richard Pointer Mon, 14 Jan 2008 17:17:10 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2008/01/economist-as-scrooge.html#comment-409407 It is interesting. Our family has decided on no gifts at Christmas and rather to donate to charity. Still people give gifts but less so. We have tried to bring us back from the edge, but the competition to give is too strong. It is interesting. Our family has decided on no gifts at Christmas and rather to donate to charity. Still people give gifts but less so. We have tried to bring us back from the edge, but the competition to give is too strong.

]]> By: Silas http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/01/economist-as-sc.html#comment-409406 Silas Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:40:00 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2008/01/economist-as-scrooge.html#comment-409406 Another benefit of gift-giving that he missed is that it exposes the recipient to some kind of good whose utility he hadn't yet realized and thus would not have purchased with his own money, or after given cash or a gift card. Individual rationality does not imply omniscience! I personally have been on both ends of this. My brother got me a navigation system for my car, which has been tremendously useful, but which I would not have gotten on my own, even if I received enough cash to buy it as a gift. I also go my mom a webcam so we could video chat, something she wouldn't have gone out and purchased on her own, and today she's absolutely fascinated with it. Lesson: make your gift something that exposes the recipient a new experience they may like. Another benefit of gift-giving that he missed is that it exposes the recipient to some kind of good whose utility he hadn’t yet realized and thus would not have purchased with his own money, or after given cash or a gift card. Individual rationality does not imply omniscience!

I personally have been on both ends of this. My brother got me a navigation system for my car, which has been tremendously useful, but which I would not have gotten on my own, even if I received enough cash to buy it as a gift. I also go my mom a webcam so we could video chat, something she wouldn’t have gone out and purchased on her own, and today she’s absolutely fascinated with it.

Lesson: make your gift something that exposes the recipient a new experience they may like.

]]> By: tsonevski http://www.overcomingbias.com/2008/01/economist-as-sc.html#comment-409405 tsonevski Mon, 14 Jan 2008 13:07:30 +0000 http://prod.ob.trike.com.au/2008/01/economist-as-scrooge.html#comment-409405 Eric Posner discussed gift giving in his book "Law and Social Norms". Finding the individual's personal taste and making one happy is the art of gift giving. It's not only the value of the gift, but also the value of our time we spent to figure out the taste and likings of the other person. From that point, gift giving is not only a form of art, it's a superior form of human cooperation. Eric Posner discussed gift giving in his book “Law and Social Norms”. Finding the individual’s personal taste and making one happy is the art of gift giving. It’s not only the value of the gift, but also the value of our time we spent to figure out the taste and likings of the other person. From that point, gift giving is not only a form of art, it’s a superior form of human cooperation.

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