A Theory of Social Interactions

55 Pages Posted: 5 Jan 2007 Last revised: 13 Feb 2022

See all articles by Gary S. Becker

Gary S. Becker

University of Chicago - Department of Economics; University of Chicago - Booth School of Business

Date Written: June 1974

Abstract

This essay incorporates a general treatment of social interactions into the modern theory of consumer demand. Section 1 introduces the topic and explores some of the existing perspectives on social interactions and their importance in the basic structure of wants. In Section 2, various characteristics of different persons are assumed to affect the utility functions of some persons, and the behavioral implications are systematically explored. Section 3 develops further implications and applications in the context of analyzing intra-family relations, charitable behavior, merit goods and multi-persons interactions, and envy and hatred. The variety and significance of these applications is persuasive testimony not only to the importance of social interactions, but also to the feasibility of incorporating them into a rigorous analysis.

Suggested Citation

Becker, Gary S., A Theory of Social Interactions (June 1974). NBER Working Paper No. w0042, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=259353

Gary S. Becker (Contact Author)

University of Chicago - Department of Economics ( email )

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University of Chicago - Booth School of Business

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