Skip to main content
Erschienen in: Journal of Business Economics 9/2014

01.12.2014 | Original Paper

On self-interest and greed

verfasst von: Gebhard Kirchgässner

Erschienen in: Journal of Business Economics | Ausgabe 9/2014

Einloggen

Aktivieren Sie unsere intelligente Suche, um passende Fachinhalte oder Patente zu finden.

search-config
loading …

Abstract

First the assumption of self-interest as applied in Economics is presented. Here we also discuss areas in which (many) people behave less self- but more other-regarding than traditional economic models assume. Then, greedy behaviour is considered as existing in the political and economic ‘world’. Here we refer to corruption as well as to the role of money as a positional good. We also discuss such behaviour in the academic world, in which money plays a role as well as reputation. Thus, while the assumption of mutually disinterested rationality is a very powerful instrument for analysing individual behaviour, to explain some phenomena we have to recognise that people are not only sometimes other-regarding, but also sometimes greedy, and that they might value money much more than traditional Economics assumes. We conclude with some remarks on what we can learn in this respect from Behavioural Economics.

Sie haben noch keine Lizenz? Dann Informieren Sie sich jetzt über unsere Produkte:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 102.000 Bücher
  • über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Automobil + Motoren
  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
  • Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
  • Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Journal of Business Economics

From January 2013, the Zeitschrift für Betriebswirtschaft (ZfB) is published in English under the title Journal of Business Economics (JBE). The Journal of Business Economics (JBE) aims at encouraging theoretical and applied research in the field of business economics and business administration, promoting the exchange of ideas between science and practice.

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

  • über 67.000 Bücher
  • über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

  • Bauwesen + Immobilien
  • Business IT + Informatik
  • Finance + Banking
  • Management + Führung
  • Marketing + Vertrieb
  • Versicherung + Risiko




Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Fußnoten
1
A detailed presentation of the economic model of behaviour is given in Kirchgässner (2008).
 
2
On the weak rationality principle, see Kirchgässner (2013).
 
3
Wicksteed (1910, p. 180) calls this assumption ‘non-tuism’: the individual is not interested, neither positively, nor negatively, in the well-being of those persons with whom he has market transactions. See, for example, also Brennan and Buchanan (1981, p. 156): “Homo economicus, by construction, is not predicted to act other than in furtherance of his interests, vis-à-vis that of his trading cohort, as he evaluates such interest at the moment of choice”.
 
4
On this, see for example Kirchgässner (2010).
 
5
For an overview of tests of the expected utility hypothesis, see Schoemaker (1982). For alternative approaches, see for example Kahneman and Tversky (1979) or Loomes and Sudgen (1982). Much earlier, Simon (1955, 1978) already challenged the neoclassical assumption of full or substantial rationality and presented as an alternative his concept of bounded or procedural rationality.
 
6
On the dictator game, see for example Kahneman et al. (1986 ); for the ultimatum game, see Güth et al. (1986); and for the public good game, see Isaac and Walker (1988a, b).
 
7
N. Häring, Der Homo oeconomicus ist tot, Financial Times Deutschland of March 14, 2001, http://​ockenfels.​uni-koeln.​de/​fileadmin/​wiso_​fak/​stawi-ockenfels/​pdf/​Presse/​Der_​Homo_​oeconomicus_​ist_​tot.​pdf (17 June 14).
 
8
There are also other experimental results that question the general validity of the results of simple dictator games. See for example Bromberg et al. (2006); List (2007) or Bardsley (2008).
 
9
See for example Lawson (2009); McDonald (2009) or Kirman (2010).
 
10
See for example Colander et al. (2009) or Willet (2010).
 
11
See for example Willet (2010, p. 199), who refers to Adam Smith and his regard to the moral dimension. For the impact of greed and fear on fund performance see Li and Wang (2013).
 
12
Aside from the literature mentioned above, see for example also Gintis (2010) or Bowles and Gintis (2009), who base their critique of the economic approach explicitly on the results of ultimatum and public good games (among other arguments).
 
13
See for example Mason (2009), Kothari (2010), Matzunder and Ahmad (2010) or Platt et al. (2011). But this argument was much more prevalent in the press and in the Internet than in the scientific literature.
 
14
In a recent book on “Economic Theory of Greed, Love, Groups and Networks” by Frijters and Foster (2013), for example, ‘greed’ is equated with wealth maximisation, the traditional assumption of economic analyses, and only ‘positive’ deviations from this assumption are discussed.
 
15
For a more detailed elaboration on which this part is mainly based, see Kirchgässner (2008, Chapter 2), but see also Kirchgässner (2013).
 
16
On the development of ideas of self-interest, see Monro (1987).
 
17
For an analysis of such ‘as if’ behaviour that might occur in particular in competitive environments, see the classic contributions of Alchian (1950) and Friedman (1953).
 
18
The following definition for opportunism is given by Williamson (1975, p. 47): “By opportunism I mean self-interest seeking with guile. This includes but is scarcely limited to more blatant forms, such as lying, stealing, and cheating. Opportunism more often involves subtle forms of deceit. Both active and passive forms and both ex ante and ex post types are included”.
 
19
In this context the ‘socially best outcome’ is the one that would be chosen by the individuals if they did not know in which position they would finally be in, i.e., if they were behind a ‘veil of ignorance’, in Rawls (1971) terminology. Schüssler (1990), for example, has discussed several other social dilemmas that are much more difficult to solve than the prisoners’ dilemma and in which it is less clear what the ‘socially best outcome’ is.
 
20
On this, see Kirchgässner (1990) or Zintl (1986).
 
21
For the theory of cognitive dissonance developed by Festinger (1957), see for example Opp (1970, pp. 251ff), as well as the literature presented there. Akerlof and Dickens (1982) show how this theory can be used in the framework of economic analysis.
 
22
See, as a recent example, the German newspapers’ discussion of Peer Steinbrück’s honorariums for speeches during recent years. See for example: Steinbrück veröffentlicht Nebeneinkünfte, Zeit.Online of October 30, 2012; http://​www.​zeit.​de/​politik/​deutschland/​2012-10/​peer-steinbrueck-nebeneinkuenfte (17 June 14).
 
23
See for example Opp (1985) on the effects (effectiveness) of so-called ‘soft incentives’.
 
24
This also applies to the analysis of constitutional rules. On this, see Hume (1741, pp. 42f.). This line of reasoning is also followed within the framework of Constitutional Economics. On this, see for example Brennan and Buchanan (1983), but also Kirchgässner (2014).
 
25
On the discussion of altruistic behaviour, see for example Andreoni (1988, 1990) or Kirchgässner (2010); on the discussion of heroic behaviour, see Kirchgässner (2002).
 
26
See for example Matzunder and Ahmad (2010) or Platt et al. (2011).
 
27
See for example Kirchgässner (2005) as well as Wang et al. (2011) and the literature cited there.
 
28
See for example the contributions in Berdal and Malone (2000), the review essay by Berdal (2005), or Murshed and Tadjoeddin (2009).
 
29
It is interesting to note that Smith speaks here of self-love and not of self-interest. He never uses the term greed, but he speaks of (excessive) avarice, and always with a negative connotation. On the history of economic thinking about greed, see for example Verburg (2012), who, however, does not see the negative connotation of greed.
 
30
See for example Smith (1759, p. 51, p. 131), but also Smith (1776, p. 550).
 
31
As Sen (1970) has shown in his paper on the Liberal Paradox, liberal rights might prevent a Pareto-efficient situation. Bernholz (1974) has shown that this might be the case when real external effects are at stake.
 
32
See for example Deaton (1987, p. 592), who, in his contribution about “consumers’ expenditure”, shows “perhaps the most general specification of preferences that could be considered” is one in which lifetime utility only depends on current and expected future consumption.
 
33
On money “in its role of providing a way to pursue acquisition for its own sake”, see also Levine (2000, p. 131).
 
34
See Rose-Ackerman (1975, p. 190). The expected costs of corruption might include a moral component.
 
35
On legal corruption, see also Kaufmann and Vincente (2011).
 
36
On the extent of corruption in different countries, see Transparency International (2013). Of 177 countries evaluated, Switzerland is the seventh- and Germany the twelfth-least corrupt country.
 
37
This holds not only for the explanation of corruption, but also, for example, for the ‘rational’ theory of addiction by Becker and Murphy (1988). The relevant implicit assumption in their model is also that rational drug consumers have an extremely high discount rate.
 
38
See for example Piff et al. (2010, 2012), Kraus et al. (2012) or Trautmann et al. (2013).
 
39
See for example Frey (1997).
 
40
Potential losses might be very large even if expected losses are small. To restrict the impact of greediness on the behaviour of traders, Jin and Zhou (2013) propose to impose a priori limits to potential losses.
 
41
This can be interpreted as a variant of the habit-persistence theory of consumption as originally developed by Duesenberry (1949). He already mentioned the ‘ratchet effect’ (p. 115), i.e., a possible asymmetry in consumer behaviour, but only when discussing the (macroeconomic) consumption function. To this day, whenever habit persistence is assumed, nearly always a symmetric version of this theory is applied.
 
42
The theory of positional goods goes back to Hirsch (1976), who, however, relies on earlier work by Wicksteed (1910) and Harrod (1958). For policy applications, see for example Frank (2005).
 
43
See for example Frank and Cook (1995, pp. 41ff).
 
44
For examples of excessive executive compensation, even in cases of low performance, see for example Childs (2000, pp. 36ff) or Kothari (2010, p. 53ff).
 
45
On inequity aversion, see for example Fehr and Schmidt (1999) or Bolton and Ockenfels (2000): Another group in which we can find excessively high incomes combined with even criminal acts to earn even more money are lawyers, as mentioned in Lerman (2005, p. 612), who at a workshop “described the recent spate of cases in which lawyers with enormously high incomes have gone to prison for stealing from their clients or partners.” She speaks of a “workaholic, money-hungry culture that has taken over so many large law firms eroding the integrity of many lawyers and ruining the life of some.”
 
46
On the relation between greed and loss, see also Levine (2000).
 
47
On this, see Ungern-Sternberg (1995).
 
48
For an extreme example, see Hesse (1994, p. 18).
 
49
See Lerner (2002/03: More recently, there was a similar case at the Swiss federal Institute of Technology in Zurich. It was impossible, however, to determine with certainty who was responsible for this fraud. See: Bericht über Forschungsbetrug, Neue Zürcher Zeitung No. 40 in February 2010, p. 13.
 
50
See Abbot et al. (2007).
 
51
On this, see Forscher im Solde von Philip Morris, Neue Zürcher Zeitung No. 122 of 28 May 2003, p. 16. For an evaluation of this case by the University of Geneva, see University of Geneva (2004); on the efforts of the tobacco industry to influence political decisions in Switzerland, see for example Lee and Glantz (2001) or Malka and Gregori ( 2008 ).
 
52
For further examples, see Krimsky (2003) or Friedberg et al. (1999).
 
53
On this, see Ferguson (2012, pp. 340ff).
 
Literatur
Zurück zum Zitat Abbott A, Cyranoski D, Feresin E, Lenotti C (2007) Academic accused of living on borrowed lines. Nature 448(7154):632–633 Abbott A, Cyranoski D, Feresin E, Lenotti C (2007) Academic accused of living on borrowed lines. Nature 448(7154):632–633
Zurück zum Zitat Akerlof GA, Dickens WT (1982) The economic consequences of cognitive dissonance. Am Econ Rev 72:307–319 Akerlof GA, Dickens WT (1982) The economic consequences of cognitive dissonance. Am Econ Rev 72:307–319
Zurück zum Zitat Alchian AA (1950) Uncertainty, and economic theory. J Polit Econ 58:211–221CrossRef Alchian AA (1950) Uncertainty, and economic theory. J Polit Econ 58:211–221CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Andreoni J (1988) Privately produced public goods in a large economy: the limits of altruism. J Public Econ 35:57–73CrossRef Andreoni J (1988) Privately produced public goods in a large economy: the limits of altruism. J Public Econ 35:57–73CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Andreoni J (1990) Impure altruism and donations to public goods: a theory of warm glow giving. Econ J 100:464–477CrossRef Andreoni J (1990) Impure altruism and donations to public goods: a theory of warm glow giving. Econ J 100:464–477CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Bardsley N (2008) Dictator game giving: altruism or artefact? Exp Econ 11:122–133CrossRef Bardsley N (2008) Dictator game giving: altruism or artefact? Exp Econ 11:122–133CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Becker GS, Murphy KM (1988) A theory of rational addiction. J Polit Econ 96:675–700CrossRef Becker GS, Murphy KM (1988) A theory of rational addiction. J Polit Econ 96:675–700CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Berdal M (2005) Beyond greed and grievance: and not too soon. Rev Int Stud 31:687–698CrossRef Berdal M (2005) Beyond greed and grievance: and not too soon. Rev Int Stud 31:687–698CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Berdal M, Malone D (2000) Greed and grievance: economic agendas in civil wars. Lyenne Riener, Boulder Berdal M, Malone D (2000) Greed and grievance: economic agendas in civil wars. Lyenne Riener, Boulder
Zurück zum Zitat Bernholz P (1974) Is a paretian liberal really impossible? Public Choice 20:99–108CrossRef Bernholz P (1974) Is a paretian liberal really impossible? Public Choice 20:99–108CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Bolton GE, Ockenfels A (2000) ERC: a theory of equity. Reciprocity, and competition. Am Econ Rev 90:166–193CrossRef Bolton GE, Ockenfels A (2000) ERC: a theory of equity. Reciprocity, and competition. Am Econ Rev 90:166–193CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Bowles S, Gintis H (2009) Beyond enlightened self-interest: social norms, other-regarding preferences, and cooperative behavior. In: Levin SA (ed) Games, groups, and the global good. Springer, Heidelberg, pp 57–78CrossRef Bowles S, Gintis H (2009) Beyond enlightened self-interest: social norms, other-regarding preferences, and cooperative behavior. In: Levin SA (ed) Games, groups, and the global good. Springer, Heidelberg, pp 57–78CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Brennan G, Buchanan JM (1981) The normative purpose of economic science: rediscovery of an eighteenth century method. Int Rev Law Econo 1:155–166CrossRef Brennan G, Buchanan JM (1981) The normative purpose of economic science: rediscovery of an eighteenth century method. Int Rev Law Econo 1:155–166CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Brennan G, Buchanan JM (1983) Predictive power and the choice among regimes. Econ J 93:89–105CrossRef Brennan G, Buchanan JM (1983) Predictive power and the choice among regimes. Econ J 93:89–105CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Bromberg T, Ellingsen T, Johannesson M (2006) Is generosity involuntary? Econ Lett 94:32–37CrossRef Bromberg T, Ellingsen T, Johannesson M (2006) Is generosity involuntary? Econ Lett 94:32–37CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Camerer CF, Loewenstein G, Prelec D (2005) Neuroeconomics: how neuroscience can inform economics. J Econ Lit 43:9–64CrossRef Camerer CF, Loewenstein G, Prelec D (2005) Neuroeconomics: how neuroscience can inform economics. J Econ Lit 43:9–64CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Cherry TL, Frykblom P, Shogren JS (2002) Hardnose the dictator. Am Econ Rev 92:1218–1221CrossRef Cherry TL, Frykblom P, Shogren JS (2002) Hardnose the dictator. Am Econ Rev 92:1218–1221CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Childs JM (2000) Greed: economics and ethics in conflict. Fortress Press, Minneapolis Childs JM (2000) Greed: economics and ethics in conflict. Fortress Press, Minneapolis
Zurück zum Zitat Clements MT (2013) Self-Interest vs. greed and the limitations of the invisible hand. Am J Econ Sociol 72:949–965CrossRef Clements MT (2013) Self-Interest vs. greed and the limitations of the invisible hand. Am J Econ Sociol 72:949–965CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Colander D et al (2009) the financial crisis and the systemic failure of the economics profession. Crit Rev 21:240–267CrossRef Colander D et al (2009) the financial crisis and the systemic failure of the economics profession. Crit Rev 21:240–267CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Deaton AS (1987) Consumers’ expenditure. The new palgrave: a dictionary of economics, vol 1. Macmillan, London, pp 592–607 Deaton AS (1987) Consumers’ expenditure. The new palgrave: a dictionary of economics, vol 1. Macmillan, London, pp 592–607
Zurück zum Zitat Duesenberry J (1949) Income, saving and the theory of consumer behavior. Harvard University Press, Cambridge Duesenberry J (1949) Income, saving and the theory of consumer behavior. Harvard University Press, Cambridge
Zurück zum Zitat Edgworth FY (1881) Mathematical psychics: an essay on the application of mathematics to the moral sciences. Kegan Paul, London Edgworth FY (1881) Mathematical psychics: an essay on the application of mathematics to the moral sciences. Kegan Paul, London
Zurück zum Zitat Fehr E, Schmidt KM (1999) A theory of fairness, competition, and cooperation. Quart J Econ 114:817–868CrossRef Fehr E, Schmidt KM (1999) A theory of fairness, competition, and cooperation. Quart J Econ 114:817–868CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Ferguson CH (2012) Predator nation: Corporate criminals, political corruption, and the hijacking of America. Crown Business, New York Ferguson CH (2012) Predator nation: Corporate criminals, political corruption, and the hijacking of America. Crown Business, New York
Zurück zum Zitat Ferstman C, Gneezy U, List JA (2012) Equity aversion: social norms and the desire to be ahead. Am Econ J Microecon 4(4):131–144CrossRef Ferstman C, Gneezy U, List JA (2012) Equity aversion: social norms and the desire to be ahead. Am Econ J Microecon 4(4):131–144CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Festinger L (1957) A theory of cognitive dissonance. Stanford University Press, Stanford Festinger L (1957) A theory of cognitive dissonance. Stanford University Press, Stanford
Zurück zum Zitat Frank RH (2005) Positional externalities cause large and preventable welfare losses. Am Econ Rev Pap Proc 95(2):137–141CrossRef Frank RH (2005) Positional externalities cause large and preventable welfare losses. Am Econ Rev Pap Proc 95(2):137–141CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Frank RH, Cook PJ (1995) The winner-take-all society. Free Press, New York Frank RH, Cook PJ (1995) The winner-take-all society. Free Press, New York
Zurück zum Zitat Frey BS (1997) Not just for the money: an economic theory of personal motivation. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham Frey BS (1997) Not just for the money: an economic theory of personal motivation. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham
Zurück zum Zitat Friedberg M, Saffran B, Stinson TJ, Nelson W, Bennet CL (1999) Evaluation of conflict of interest in economic analyses of new drugs used in oncology. J Am Med Assoc (JAMA) 282:1453–1457CrossRef Friedberg M, Saffran B, Stinson TJ, Nelson W, Bennet CL (1999) Evaluation of conflict of interest in economic analyses of new drugs used in oncology. J Am Med Assoc (JAMA) 282:1453–1457CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Friedman M (1953) The methodology of positive economics. In: Friedman M (ed) Essays in positive economics. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 3–43 Friedman M (1953) The methodology of positive economics. In: Friedman M (ed) Essays in positive economics. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, pp 3–43
Zurück zum Zitat Frijters P, Foster G (2013) Economic theory of greed, love, groups and networks. Cambridge University Press, New YorkCrossRef Frijters P, Foster G (2013) Economic theory of greed, love, groups and networks. Cambridge University Press, New YorkCrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Gintis H (2010) Beyond homo economicus: evidence from experimental economics. Ecol Econ 35:311–322CrossRef Gintis H (2010) Beyond homo economicus: evidence from experimental economics. Ecol Econ 35:311–322CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Gossen HH (1854) Entwickelung der Gesetze des menschlichen Verkehrs, und der daraus fließenden Regeln für menschliches Handeln. Vieweg und Sohn, Braunschweig Gossen HH (1854) Entwickelung der Gesetze des menschlichen Verkehrs, und der daraus fließenden Regeln für menschliches Handeln. Vieweg und Sohn, Braunschweig
Zurück zum Zitat Güth W, Schmittberger R, Schwarze B (1986) An experimental analysis of ultimatum bargaining. J Econ Behav Organ 3(1982):367–388 Güth W, Schmittberger R, Schwarze B (1986) An experimental analysis of ultimatum bargaining. J Econ Behav Organ 3(1982):367–388
Zurück zum Zitat Harrod R (1958) The possibility of economic satiety: Use of economic growth for improving the quality of life. In: Committee for economic development (ed), Problems of Economic Development, New York Harrod R (1958) The possibility of economic satiety: Use of economic growth for improving the quality of life. In: Committee for economic development (ed), Problems of Economic Development, New York
Zurück zum Zitat Hesse H (1994) Als Wissenschaftler in der Politik? In: Universität Hannover (ed), Vorträge im Fachbereich Wirtschaftswissenschaften, vol 20, Hannover, pp 17–37 Hesse H (1994) Als Wissenschaftler in der Politik? In: Universität Hannover (ed), Vorträge im Fachbereich Wirtschaftswissenschaften, vol 20, Hannover, pp 17–37
Zurück zum Zitat Hirsch F (1976) The social limits to growth. Routledge and Kegan Paul, LondonCrossRef Hirsch F (1976) The social limits to growth. Routledge and Kegan Paul, LondonCrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Horton TJ (2011) The coming extinction of homo economicus and the eclipse of the chicago school of antitrust: applying evolutionary biology to structural and behavioral antitrust analyses. Loyola Univ Chic Law J 42:469–522 Horton TJ (2011) The coming extinction of homo economicus and the eclipse of the chicago school of antitrust: applying evolutionary biology to structural and behavioral antitrust analyses. Loyola Univ Chic Law J 42:469–522
Zurück zum Zitat Hume D (1741) On the independency of parliament (reprinted). In: Hume D (ed) Essays: moral, political, and literary, vol 1758, A. Kincaid/A. Donaldson, Edinburgh, pp 117–122 Hume D (1741) On the independency of parliament (reprinted). In: Hume D (ed) Essays: moral, political, and literary, vol 1758, A. Kincaid/A. Donaldson, Edinburgh, pp 117–122
Zurück zum Zitat Isaac RM, Walker JM (1988a) Communication and free-riding behavior: the voluntary contribution mechanism. Econ Inq 26:585–608CrossRef Isaac RM, Walker JM (1988a) Communication and free-riding behavior: the voluntary contribution mechanism. Econ Inq 26:585–608CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Isaac RM, Walker JM (1988b) Group size effects in public goods provision: the voluntary contributions mechanism. Quart J Econ 103:179–199CrossRef Isaac RM, Walker JM (1988b) Group size effects in public goods provision: the voluntary contributions mechanism. Quart J Econ 103:179–199CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Jin H, Zhou XY (2013) Greed, leverage, and potential losses: a prospect theory perspective. Math Financ 23:122–142CrossRef Jin H, Zhou XY (2013) Greed, leverage, and potential losses: a prospect theory perspective. Math Financ 23:122–142CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Kahneman D, Tversky A (1979) Prospect theory: an analysis of decision under risk. Econometrica 47(1979):263–291CrossRef Kahneman D, Tversky A (1979) Prospect theory: an analysis of decision under risk. Econometrica 47(1979):263–291CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Kahneman D, Knetsch JL, Thaler RH (1986) Fairness and the assumptions of economics. J Bus 59(1986):S285–S300CrossRef Kahneman D, Knetsch JL, Thaler RH (1986) Fairness and the assumptions of economics. J Bus 59(1986):S285–S300CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Kaufmann D, Vincente PC (2011) Legal corruption. Econ Politics 23(2011):195–219CrossRef Kaufmann D, Vincente PC (2011) Legal corruption. Econ Politics 23(2011):195–219CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Kirchgässner G (1990) Hebt ein ‚knapper‘Wahlausgang die Wahlbeteiligung?, Eine Überprüfung der ökonomischen Theorie der Wahlbeteiligung anhand der Bundestagswahl 1987. In: Kaase M, Klingemann H-D (eds) Wahlen und Wähler, Analysen aus Anlass der Bundestagswahl 1987, Westdeutscher Verlag, Opladen, pp 445–477 Kirchgässner G (1990) Hebt ein ‚knapper‘Wahlausgang die Wahlbeteiligung?, Eine Überprüfung der ökonomischen Theorie der Wahlbeteiligung anhand der Bundestagswahl 1987. In: Kaase M, Klingemann H-D (eds) Wahlen und Wähler, Analysen aus Anlass der Bundestagswahl 1987, Westdeutscher Verlag, Opladen, pp 445–477
Zurück zum Zitat Kirchgässner G (2002) On the role of heroes in political and economic processes. Kyklos 55:179–196CrossRef Kirchgässner G (2002) On the role of heroes in political and economic processes. Kyklos 55:179–196CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Kirchgässner G (2005) (Why) Are economists different? Eur J Polit Econ 21:543–562CrossRef Kirchgässner G (2005) (Why) Are economists different? Eur J Polit Econ 21:543–562CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Kirchgässner G (2008) Homo oeconomicus: the economic model of behaviour and its applications to economics and other social sciences. Springer, New York Kirchgässner G (2008) Homo oeconomicus: the economic model of behaviour and its applications to economics and other social sciences. Springer, New York
Zurück zum Zitat Kirchgässner G (2010) On minimal morals. Eur J Polit Econ 26:330–339CrossRef Kirchgässner G (2010) On minimal morals. Eur J Polit Econ 26:330–339CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Kirchgässner G (2013) The weak rationality principle in economics. Swiss J Econ Stat (Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Volkswirtschaft und Statistik) 149:1–26 Kirchgässner G (2013) The weak rationality principle in economics. Swiss J Econ Stat (Schweizerische Zeitschrift für Volkswirtschaft und Statistik) 149:1–26
Zurück zum Zitat Kirchgässner G (2014) The role of homo oeconomicus in the political economy of James Buchanan. Const Polit Econ 25:2–17CrossRef Kirchgässner G (2014) The role of homo oeconomicus in the political economy of James Buchanan. Const Polit Econ 25:2–17CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Kirman A (2010) The economic crisis is a crisis for economic theory. CESifo Econ Stud 56:498–535CrossRef Kirman A (2010) The economic crisis is a crisis for economic theory. CESifo Econ Stud 56:498–535CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Kothari VB (2010) Executive greed: examining business failures the contributed to the economic crisis. Palgrave MacMillan, New YorkCrossRef Kothari VB (2010) Executive greed: examining business failures the contributed to the economic crisis. Palgrave MacMillan, New YorkCrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Kraus MW, Piff PK, Mendoza-Denton R, Rheinschmidt ML, Keltner D (2012) Psychological review vol 119, pp 546–572 Kraus MW, Piff PK, Mendoza-Denton R, Rheinschmidt ML, Keltner D (2012) Psychological review vol 119, pp 546–572
Zurück zum Zitat Krimsky S (2003) Science in the private interest: has the lure of profits corrupted biomedical research?. Rowman and Littlefield, Lanham Krimsky S (2003) Science in the private interest: has the lure of profits corrupted biomedical research?. Rowman and Littlefield, Lanham
Zurück zum Zitat Lawson T (2009) The current economic crisis: its nature and the course of academic economics. Camb J Econ 33:759–777CrossRef Lawson T (2009) The current economic crisis: its nature and the course of academic economics. Camb J Econ 33:759–777CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Lerman LG (2005) Greed among American lawyers. Okla City Univ Law Rev 30:611–636 Lerman LG (2005) Greed among American lawyers. Okla City Univ Law Rev 30:611–636
Zurück zum Zitat Lerner EJ (2002) Fraud shows peer-review flaws, The Industrial Physicist, December/January, pp 12–15 Lerner EJ (2002) Fraud shows peer-review flaws, The Industrial Physicist, December/January, pp 12–15
Zurück zum Zitat Levin DP (2000) The attachment of greed to self-interest. Psychoanal Stud 2:131–140CrossRef Levin DP (2000) The attachment of greed to self-interest. Psychoanal Stud 2:131–140CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Li CA, Wang JC (2013) The influence of greed and fear on funds performance. Int J Bus Financ Res 7:47–59 Li CA, Wang JC (2013) The influence of greed and fear on funds performance. Int J Bus Financ Res 7:47–59
Zurück zum Zitat List JA (2007) On the interpretation of giving in dictator games. J Polit Econ 115(2007):482–493CrossRef List JA (2007) On the interpretation of giving in dictator games. J Polit Econ 115(2007):482–493CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Loomes G, Sudgen R (1982) Some implications of a more general form of regret theory. J Econ Theory 41:270–287CrossRef Loomes G, Sudgen R (1982) Some implications of a more general form of regret theory. J Econ Theory 41:270–287CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Malka S, Gregori M (2008) Vernebelung: Wie die Tabakindustrie Wissenschaft kauft, Orell Füssli, Zürich Malka S, Gregori M (2008) Vernebelung: Wie die Tabakindustrie Wissenschaft kauft, Orell Füssli, Zürich
Zurück zum Zitat Mason P (2009) Meltdown: the end of the age of greed. Verso, London Mason P (2009) Meltdown: the end of the age of greed. Verso, London
Zurück zum Zitat Matzunder MI, Ahmad N (2010) Greed financial innovation or laxity of regulation. Stud Econ Financ 27:110–134CrossRef Matzunder MI, Ahmad N (2010) Greed financial innovation or laxity of regulation. Stud Econ Financ 27:110–134CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat McDonald IM (2009) The global financial crisis and behavioural economics. Econ Pap 28:149–154CrossRef McDonald IM (2009) The global financial crisis and behavioural economics. Econ Pap 28:149–154CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Monro DH (1987) Self-Interest. The new palgrave, a dictionary of economics, vol 4. Macmillan, London, pp 297–300 Monro DH (1987) Self-Interest. The new palgrave, a dictionary of economics, vol 4. Macmillan, London, pp 297–300
Zurück zum Zitat Murshed SM, Tadjoeddin MZ (2009) Revisiting the greed and grievance explanation for violent internal conflict. J Int Dev 21:87–111CrossRef Murshed SM, Tadjoeddin MZ (2009) Revisiting the greed and grievance explanation for violent internal conflict. J Int Dev 21:87–111CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat O’Boyle EJ (2007) Requiem for homo economicus. J Mark Moral 10(2007):321–337 O’Boyle EJ (2007) Requiem for homo economicus. J Mark Moral 10(2007):321–337
Zurück zum Zitat Opp KD (1970) Methodologie der Sozialwissenschaften, Einführung in Probleme ihrer Theorienbildung, Rowohlt, Hamburg Opp KD (1970) Methodologie der Sozialwissenschaften, Einführung in Probleme ihrer Theorienbildung, Rowohlt, Hamburg
Zurück zum Zitat Opp KD (1985) Sociology and economic man. J Inst Theor Econ (Zeitschrift für die gesamte Staatswissenschaft) 141:213–243 Opp KD (1985) Sociology and economic man. J Inst Theor Econ (Zeitschrift für die gesamte Staatswissenschaft) 141:213–243
Zurück zum Zitat Piff PK, Kraus MW, Côte S, Cheng BH, Keltner D (2010) Having less, prosocial behavior. J Pers Soc Psychol 99:771–784CrossRef Piff PK, Kraus MW, Côte S, Cheng BH, Keltner D (2010) Having less, prosocial behavior. J Pers Soc Psychol 99:771–784CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Piff PK, Stancato DM, Côte S, Mendoza-Denton R, Keltner D (2012) Higher social class predicts increased unethical behavior. Proc Natl Acad Sci 109:4086–4091CrossRef Piff PK, Stancato DM, Côte S, Mendoza-Denton R, Keltner D (2012) Higher social class predicts increased unethical behavior. Proc Natl Acad Sci 109:4086–4091CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Platt HD, Mirick CR, Platt MB (2011) Ethics, bankruptcy and greed: the unintended consequences for landlords of the 2005 bankruptcy amendments. Int J Bus Gov Ethics 6:249–263CrossRef Platt HD, Mirick CR, Platt MB (2011) Ethics, bankruptcy and greed: the unintended consequences for landlords of the 2005 bankruptcy amendments. Int J Bus Gov Ethics 6:249–263CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Rawls J (1971) A theory of justice. Harvard University Press, Cambridge Rawls J (1971) A theory of justice. Harvard University Press, Cambridge
Zurück zum Zitat Rose-Ackerman S (1975) The economics of corruption. J Public Econ 4:187–203CrossRef Rose-Ackerman S (1975) The economics of corruption. J Public Econ 4:187–203CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Schelling TC (1978) Micromotives and macrobehavior. W.W. Norton, New York Schelling TC (1978) Micromotives and macrobehavior. W.W. Norton, New York
Zurück zum Zitat Schoemaker PJH (1982) The expected utility modell: its variants, evidence and limitations. J Econ Lit 20:529–563 Schoemaker PJH (1982) The expected utility modell: its variants, evidence and limitations. J Econ Lit 20:529–563
Zurück zum Zitat Sen AK (1970) The impossibility of a Paretian liberal. J Pol Econ 78:152–157CrossRef Sen AK (1970) The impossibility of a Paretian liberal. J Pol Econ 78:152–157CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Schüssler R (1990) Kooperation unter Egoisten: Vier Dilemmata, Oldenburg, Munich, 2nd edn 1997 Schüssler R (1990) Kooperation unter Egoisten: Vier Dilemmata, Oldenburg, Munich, 2nd edn 1997
Zurück zum Zitat Simon HA (1955) A behavioural model of rational choice. Quart J Econ 69:99–118CrossRef Simon HA (1955) A behavioural model of rational choice. Quart J Econ 69:99–118CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Simon HA (1978) Rationality as process and as product of thought. Am Econ Rev Pap Proc 68(2):1–16 Simon HA (1978) Rationality as process and as product of thought. Am Econ Rev Pap Proc 68(2):1–16
Zurück zum Zitat Tittenbrunn J (2013) The death of economic man. Int Lett Soc Humanistic Sci 11:10–34 Tittenbrunn J (2013) The death of economic man. Int Lett Soc Humanistic Sci 11:10–34
Zurück zum Zitat Trautmann ST, van de Juilen G, Zeckhauser RJ (2013) Social class and (un)ethical behavior: a framework, with evidence from a large population sample, Perspectives on Psychological Science vol 8, pp 497–497 Trautmann ST, van de Juilen G, Zeckhauser RJ (2013) Social class and (un)ethical behavior: a framework, with evidence from a large population sample, Perspectives on Psychological Science vol 8, pp 497–497
Zurück zum Zitat Ungern-Sternberg TV (1995) Running down non-profit organizations: the case of the journal of industrial economics, Cahiers de recherches économiques no 9510, Département d’économétrie et économie politique, Université de Lausanne, September Ungern-Sternberg TV (1995) Running down non-profit organizations: the case of the journal of industrial economics, Cahiers de recherches économiques no 9510, Département d’économétrie et économie politique, Université de Lausanne, September
Zurück zum Zitat Verburg R (2012) The rise of greed in early economic thought: from deadly sin to social benefit. J Hist Econ Thought 34:515–540CrossRef Verburg R (2012) The rise of greed in early economic thought: from deadly sin to social benefit. J Hist Econ Thought 34:515–540CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Wang L, Malhotra D, Murnighan JK (2011) Economics education and greed. Acad Manag Learn Educ 10:643–680CrossRef Wang L, Malhotra D, Murnighan JK (2011) Economics education and greed. Acad Manag Learn Educ 10:643–680CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Wicksteed PH (1910) The common sense of political economy: including a study of the human basis of economic law, Macmillan, London, 2nd edn 1933 Wicksteed PH (1910) The common sense of political economy: including a study of the human basis of economic law, Macmillan, London, 2nd edn 1933
Zurück zum Zitat Willet T (2010) Some lessons for economists from the financial crisis. Indian Growth Dev Rev 3:186–208CrossRef Willet T (2010) Some lessons for economists from the financial crisis. Indian Growth Dev Rev 3:186–208CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Williamson OE (1975) Markets and hierarchies. Free Press, New York Williamson OE (1975) Markets and hierarchies. Free Press, New York
Zurück zum Zitat Zintl R (1986) Ökonomisches Rationalitätskonzept und normorientiertes Verhalten. Jahrbuch für Neue Politische Ökonomie 5:227–239 Zintl R (1986) Ökonomisches Rationalitätskonzept und normorientiertes Verhalten. Jahrbuch für Neue Politische Ökonomie 5:227–239
Metadaten
Titel
On self-interest and greed
verfasst von
Gebhard Kirchgässner
Publikationsdatum
01.12.2014
Verlag
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Erschienen in
Journal of Business Economics / Ausgabe 9/2014
Print ISSN: 0044-2372
Elektronische ISSN: 1861-8928
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11573-014-0737-1

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 9/2014

Journal of Business Economics 9/2014 Zur Ausgabe

Editorial

Editorial

Premium Partner